Whanganui High School achieves 100 per cent pass rate in Cambridge Mathematics

For the first time, 100 percent of Whanganui High School Cambridge Maths students passed in 2021. Photo / Logan Tutty

Students at Whanganui High School have again aced their Cambridge Mathematics exams, with a 100 per cent pass rate across Years 11, 12 and 13.

The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education Mathematics course (IGCSE) has been offered at Whanganui High School (WHS) for the past eight years and became part of the curriculum for the first time in 2019.

IGCSE (Year 11) and AS (Year 12) are timetabled for students, with A2 (Year 13) students studying in their own time.

WHS Cambridge Maths co-ordinator Ravi Prasad said this was the first time they had a 100 per cent pass rate across all three years.

Of 17 Year 11 students, 13 got an A* grade or higher, which is 90 per cent-plus.

This year, there are 26 Year 11 students doing Cambridge Maths, the most ever at the school.

Three Year 12 students achieved A grades, with six students passing with B grades.

For Year 13s, Troy Brennan passed Cambridge International Mathematics Examination Advanced Level with an A grade and Blair Gowan passed with a B.

"It's really, really positive. Especially the Year 11s. A* is 90 per cent up, so that's very impressive," Prasad said.

"The Cambridge Mathematics curriculum is designed to incorporate a wider range of mathematical topics than in NCEA and encourages students to have a deep understanding of mathematics and use a range of higher-order thinking skills."

Troy Brennan, who has just started studying engineering at the University of Canterbury, said he was a bit surprised when he heard he got the mark.

A former deputy head boy at WHS, he said Cambridge had prepared him well for Canterbury.

"It was definitely a very enjoyable course to undertake as I really enjoy my maths."

Prasad said it was "really hard to get an A there, that is really awesome".

"He did an amazing job in Year 13.".

Year 13 Cambridge teacher Christopher Burrows, who has taught Cambridge extensively in the UK, said the curriculum really set students up for university.

"They are just used the way it's marked, the level of work, it's that next step up and sets them up really nicely."

Head of Mathematics Craig Burgess said the level of maths with Cambridge was a big asset for students as they headed off for tertiary-level study.

"They are really ahead of things and it offers a bit more rigour than what NCEA does for them. We are really proud of them."