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Abingdon private school celebrates record-breaking success

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The results have now been announced for upper sixth form pupils at St Helen and St Katharine school taking Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) exams.

One hundred per cent of the grades awarded were A* or A, with 69 per cent of students receiving the highest grade.

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Students at the school gathered in Benedict Hall to celebrate their success.

The EPQ is equivalent to half an A Level, and provides an opportunity for pupils to research diverse areas of personal interest complementing their A Level studies.

Students covered a wide range of topics this year, including ‘to what extent has Buddhism practise engaged with social change’; and ‘when does art stop being considered to be ‘art’?’

According to the school, the EPQ helps students to develop research skills – good preparation for higher education.

And it provides Oxbridge applicants with a piece of research to discuss during the application process.

The EPQ also carries UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) points, and is valued by a number of competitive universities who can use it as part of a more generous conditional offer to applicants.

Pupils at St Helen and St Katharine school celebrate exam success (Image: St Helen and St Katharine school)

Friederike Shannon, the school’s head of EPQ, said: “As a year group, upper sixth have exceeded my expectations and broken our record again.

“The project titles were incredibly varied and clearly reflected each student’s individual interests and passions.

“The EPQ continues to be just as educational for our supervisor team as it is for the students – in the best possible way – as every year we’re introduced to new topics and perspectives through their work. We are very proud of what this cohort has achieved.”

At the end of last year, the girls’ day school in Faringdon Road was ranked just outside the top 50 nationally as well as the ‘top school in Abingdon’ in The Times Parent Power 2026 guide, which assesses schools nationwide based on academic performance.





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Richard Hammond to face questions after speeding offences

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The 56-year-old TV presenter was recently fined £999 by a court after he was caught speeding twice in the space of three weeks while driving his luxury cars.

Documents from his court case show the former Top Gear host was caught out by a police officer with a handheld speed camera at just before 1pm on December 2 last year.

His Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo was clocked at 68mph in a 50mph limit on the A40 in Pencraig, Herefordshire.

At around 11.45am on December 22, Hammond’s Bentley Continental GT was speeding at 82mph in a 70mph limit on the A50 Rudhall Overbridge in Herefordshire.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson is supported by Lisa during difficult time

Mr Hammond was prosecuted and convicted for the speeding offences on July 22 in the Single Justice Procedure – a fast-track court process which allows magistrates to sit behind closed doors to deal with low level criminal cases.

Now, though, the floor is his as his online motoring community Drivetribe is hosting a Q&A with the ex Grand Tour host.

Viewers are being asked to provide questions to Mr Hammond relating to six Grand Tour specials.

It includes Lochdown (Series 4, Episode 3), Carnage a Trois (Series 4, Episode 4), A Scandi Flick (Series 5, Episode 1), Eurocrash (Series 5, Episode 2), Sand Job (Series 5, Episode 3), One for the Road (Series 6, Episode 1).

Mr Hammond famously presented the motoring show alongside Oxfordshire farmer Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

The trio started together on BBC Top Gear in 2003, which grew to be one of the most watched TV shows in the world.





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Thames Valley Police announce new Assistant Chief Constable

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Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Darren O’Callaghan brings 31 years of policing experience to the position.

He joined Thames Valley Police from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in April.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “I am delighted to be taking up my new role leading crime and criminal justice for Thames Valley Police, and to have the opportunity to build on the great work here in the force.

“In the past few weeks, the force has been highlighted by HMICFRS as making significant improvements, but also highlights areas to work on.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of doing all I can to help Thames Valley Police become an excellent force trusted by all of our communities.”

He began his career as a police constable in Petersfield in 1994 and became a detective three years later.

His experience covers professional standards, child protection, major crime, and intelligence.

He was also district commander for Fareham and Gosport.

He became director of intelligence in 2015 and head of intelligence, tasking, and development as a chief superintendent in 2017.

More recently, he worked with the Joint Operations Unit in 2022 before becoming T/Assistant Chief Constable.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “It will be a privilege to be working with our brilliant officers and staff, building on the drive to improve our investigative capability, support victims of crime, preventing harm and ensuring we achieve the best possible outcomes for them, and protect the public across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.”





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Oxford University scholarship for Asian students stops after 40 years

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The scholarship, run by Hong Kong-based company Jardine Matheson is ending its programme for Oxford and Cambridge universities after 44 years to focus on redirecting funds to institutions in Asia.

According to the Jardine Foundation’s website, students starting their studies later this year will be the final cohort of undergraduate “Oxbridge” scholars to be covered by the programme.

“The Jardine Foundation remains committed to providing access to higher education by talented students across the Asian communities in which Jardines operates,” it said.

The foundation has said it will continue to support the current Jardine scholars at the universities and the students starting this year, as well as its existing Oxford and Cambridge postgraduate scholarship programme.

The foundation was established in 1982 by Jardine Matheson to commemorate its 150th anniversary and was intended to expand higher education to students across Asia.

READ MORE: £3million innovative farm which ‘suprised’ Jeremy Clarkson closes

Exeter CollegeThe scholarship runs from Exeter College (Image: Google Street View)

The foundation initially centred on full scholarships for specific colleges at Oxford and Cambridge, before expanding its partnerships to Asian institutions such as the University of Hong Kong and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia.

The company is one of the original Hong Kong trading houses that dates back to Imperial China.

The undergraduate scholarship was in partnership with Oxford university, and applicants could only study at Exeter College, Oriel College, The Queen’s College, and Trinity College.

Applicants can apply from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Former chairman of the scholarship includes famous art historian Duncan Robinson, British diplomat Sir Ivor Roberts, and English mathematician Geoffrey Grimmett.





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