Girls Excel Academically at King’s College

As King’s College recorded the 25th anniversary of having girls at the College in 2004, I am delighted to report on the academic success of last year’s cohort in the CIE and the NCEA examinations. The first female Dux of the College was Nicola Butt in 1980. Nicola had previously been at Howick College and achieved considerable academic success in the time that she was at King’s College. Nicola is now a Doctor and…..

In 2004 national university entrance rates declined due to a variety of factors and, in this context, the girls at King’s College have achieved excellent results. Particularly pleasing are the great results the girls have achieved in the challenging Cambridge International Examinations, especially given that we experienced the A2 level examinations for the first time. Of the Year 13 girls enrolled in CIE courses in 2004, 93% achieved university entrance and 83% of the girls enrolled in NCEA Level 3 courses achieved university entrance, giving the girls an overall UE pass rate of 91.5%.

Even more impressive was the results achieved by the Year 12 girls in 2004. For those enrolled in CIE courses, 64% have achieved university entrance a year ahead of time (a figure double that of the year before), giving them a fantastic opportunity to broaden their subject base in preparation for university and get fully involved in the co-curricular life of the College in their final year. The fact that not one of the girls left the College to pursue university studies is proof of their desire to get as much from their King’s College education as they can. Similarly, the girls in Year 12 enrolled in NCEA Level 2 achieved a 100% pass rate, but they will now need to pass Level 3 subjects to gain UE.

Two girls who have done extremely well in each year group are Pieta Brown and Rebecca Ryall. Pieta Brown was in Year 13 last year and gained university entrance through outstanding Bursary results as a year 12 student in 2003. She gained three scholarships and a Bursary total of 394. In 2004 she studied four CIE subjects gaining two full A level ‘A’ grades in Literature and Mathematics and an A level ‘B’ grade in Physics. In addition she gained an AS ‘A’ grade in the History of Art. To top off her success Pieta gained three NCEA Level 4 scholarships and was recently awarded one of only six NZEST Scholarships awarded in New Zealand. Pieta is currently enrolled in a conjoint BA/BSc course at Auckland University  and has future plans to study cognitive science, psychology or statistical analysis at tertiary level.  

Rebecca Ryall’s story is also impressive. As one of New Zealand’s most promising female rowers (she recently finished 4th in the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston), Rebecca studied four CIE subjects in 2004 as a Year 12, gaining 3 AS B grades and a C grade, thus gaining UE a year ahead and allowing her to fully devote herself to her rowing and her studies in Year 13, as she searches for a university scholarship in the United States. At the recent Maadi Cup regatta, Rebecca gained three rowing gold medals which was a superb achievement.

In my short time at King’s College, I have been interested in the reasons why girls wish to come here in their last two years of school. At interview, the reasons given have mainly centred on the following areas although for many girls, a combination of the these factors usually exist; Many girls have wished for the opportunity to study the Cambridge examinations or they want to try a new situation after being at one school for a long time. Some girls want to experience a co-educational environment before moving to university or they are looking for sporting or cultural opportunities not available at their current school. Others state clearly they wish to study at the same school in which their brother or father attended. The most pleasing aspect is that many girls have greatly enjoyed the King’s College all-round ethos and environment, whilst achieving considerable academic success. The growing applications for female places at the College suggests this is appealing to an even greater clientele.

The academic results of the girls at King’s College in 2004 are a tribute to their fine attitude and work ethic and the efforts of their teachers. There are some educators who generalize about the relative gender strengths and weaknesses of qualification systems with respect to internal and external assessments. Our experience at King’s College this year suggests that girls are able to achieve superb results in both systems and those attempting the Cambridge examinations have a huge opportunity for success on an international stage which will, in turn, prepare them admirably for university.

We enter our second 25 year period with girls at King’s College with great anticipation of further success.

Roy Kelley

Headmaster