Students, staff, parents and governors were all thoroughly delighted when students in the Sixth Form opened their exam results on August 14th. The 2017 post 16 results brought a huge amount of success.

Every student passed their A level with 100% A*-E rate and the same was true of Level 3 vocational courses. Mr David Smith, Director of Sixth Form commented: “I was particularly pleased that our top end nudged up, as this is an area we have focused on. A*-B grades rose by 0.7% and A*-C grades went up by 1.2% on 2016. Distinction* grades were in abundance and students on CTEC Level 3 Sport gained an amazing 100% Distinction*”.

The top student in terms of A Level grades was Thomas Antolin with A* in Maths, A in Chemistry and A in Physics. For the girls, Barbara Naughton-Ammon shined with A* in Sociology, A in Business Studies and B in Government and Politics. Ajmul Ali gained Distinction* in both Business and ICT at Level 3, as did Shazmin Cole and Ukuna Mampova.

There was some degree of uncertainty about this year’s results because numerous courses were following new specifications and the revised ‘harder’ A levels. Some courses had become two year linear programmes with no staging post of the AS level to indicate to the school how students were progressing. The Headteacher, Dr Tracey Jones, said: “we needn’t have worried! Students and teachers coped well with the new specifications and the results were very pleasing. Since a change in the regulations all schools now have to cash in all grades, so there is no hiding place for fail grades and so I was relieved that there were none and everyone passed. I am very proud of the students and the teachers; they have all worked very hard to gain success”.

Level 3 vocational courses, which are equivalent to A levels, were particularly strong. CTEC Sport delivered a whopping 7 Distinction* grades and CTEC Business performed strongly with 10 Distinction*, 4 Distinctions and 3 Merits. CTEC ICT significantly improved on last year’s results with 5 Distinction*, 8 Distinctions and 1 Merit. Indeed 76.4% of candidates got Distinction* to Merit on Level 3 vocational qualifications.

In terms of particular subjects shining at A level it was notable that A Level English Literature did well with 100% pass and it met its target at the top end, A*-B, with 38%. This was the first year through for this newtwo year linear course and it significantly strengthened from its 2016 position. The same is true for Art and Textiles – delivering good results on a two year teaching methodology. A level Business Studies did well with A*-B beating its target by 24% and improving on 2016 by 27%. Film Studies was excellent, beating it’s A*-B target by 20%. Indeed for every indicator its targets were met or exceeded. Results are in line with national and the average grade of C+ beat the target grade of C.

Health and Social Care beat their target at A*-B by 53%. They beat their target for A*-C by 20%. They gained 100% pass which was on target and they accurately predicted their average grade, B-, which was above target and above 2016. 100% pass rates were gained in Biology, History, Maths, Dutch, Economics, Portuguese, Music, Chemistry, Drama, French, German, Politics, Media Studies, Physics, Sociology, Spanish, Travel and Tourism and General Studies. A* grades were gained in Maths and Sociology and A grades were gained in Chemistry, Physics,German, Business, Health and Social Care, Media Studies and Maths. The school’s Sports’ Leaders courses and Extended Project gained some students much welcome additional UCAS points.

The school also prides itself on offering an inclusive Sixth Form and it offers some one year Level 2 courses – in Business Retail, Hairdressing and Public Services. These achieved 100% pass. In addition a number of students gained their re-sit GCSE Maths and/or English Language qualifications at the elusive C grade and 19 students gained additional Maths certificates at Level 1 and/or Level 2 which will strengthen their CVs.

Mrs Alicja Tomey, Chair of Governors, was pleased overall and she commented: “I was particularly pleased to hear that all students who wanted to go to university got there. Indeed the vast majority got their first choice university place and there was little reliance on the UCAS clearing system this year. The aim of education is to open the door to the next stage in a young person’s life and we have certainly managed to achieve that! Well done to all involved from the school’s governors; we are proud of you”.