Making the grades
Pupils from the Licensed Trade Charity's schools once again find they have plenty to celebrate
The results are in - the Licensed Victuallers' School (LVS) in Ascot and the Elvian School in Reading, Berkshire, are celebrating achievements in their pupils' A-level results. An impressive 70% of pupils at the LVS achieved A-C grades, with 43 of the 66 pupils getting A grades. Half of the students who took A levels at the Elvian School achieved A-C grades.
Director of education Ian Mullins says: "Once again we are very pleased with the results at both schools. They reflect the pupils' hard work and the support of our teaching staff to bring out the best in every individual. It's great to see the children of those working in the licensed trade doing so well."
The Lion family has made use of the facilities at the LVS and the discount on fees. At the start of the year, the MA ran an article on the school and featured pupil Ben Lion. Ben was a year-13 student and senior prefect at the LVS, with a dream to study aeronautical engineering and become a commercial airline pilot.
The son of a hotelier, Ben joined the school aged 12. Despite having dyslexia, with the help of the school's specialist Learning Support Unit, he has achieved fantastic results.
Needing an A in physics, a B in maths and a C in geography to study at Loughborough University, Ben gained an A in physics and a B in both maths and geography.
His aim to study aeronautical engineering and ultimately become a commercial pilot is now a very real possibility.
"I am thrilled, having not expected to do so well, especially in mathematics," says Ben. "As regards to my pilot's licence, I have just one exam to take, the final flight test, in October. So far, I have taken seven exams, including radio tests and oral tests."
Other students from the LVS who achieved especially good results were head boy Osagie Omokhodion, and Siok Hui Ong, who both gained five A grades, while Patrick Steiger gained straight A grades in chemistry, German, physics and human biology. He plans to study biochemistry in Zurich in 2008 after doing his national service in the Swiss army.
The two independent, non-selective co-educational schools are owned and operated by the LTC. The LVS and the Elvian offer a 20% discount on fees to parents who work in the industry*. Means-tested bursaries are also available to anyone working in the licensed drinks trade. With independent schools accounting for 7% of the pupil population in the UK, and parents opting to pay for schools with smaller class sizes, better results and state-of-the-art facilities, the chance to receive substantial discounts at two excelling schools has to be a big consideration for parents in the industry. The boarding facilities at Ascot also give pupils a stable term-time environment, helping parents who need to move with their job.
Both schools hold open days throughout the year when parents and children can visit to look around. The next open day for the LVS is on Thursday, 4 October from 10am to 4pm. There is also a Saturday tour on 22 September, 9.45am for a 10am start - please telephone to reserve a place, on 01344 882770.
The Elvian School is holding open days on Saturday, 13 October, from 10am to 1pm and on Tuesday, 16 October, from 10am to 4pm.
To learn more or arrange a tour, contact Margaret Dickinson at Ascot on registrar@lvs.ascot.sch.uk or, for the Elvian school, Sue Manser at Elvian on 0118 957 2861 or visit www.elvian.reading.sch.uk
* Subject to annual membership fee of £30.
