Students celebrate A-level success

Sixth form students surpassed the average national pass rate of 97.2 per cent to achieve an overall 98 per cent pass rate at A to E grade.

The pass rate was recorded at 96 per cent with the inclusion of adult learners.

Last year, A-level students scored an overall pass rate of 94 per cent.

Sunshine mirrors pupils' joy at successful exam results

A SUNNY results day matched a bright outlook for Budmouth Technology College students who awaited their A-level grades.

Students matched the England, Wales and Northern Ireland pass rate of 97.2 per cent by recording an overall 97 per cent pass rate.

A year ago students were also celebrating a 97 per cent pass rate.

David Akers, principal of the Weymouth school, said: "They're a good year group who have worked very hard to get an overall pass rate of 97 per cent at A to E grade.

"This is above their target rate, which was below 97 per cent. As individuals lots of them have exceeded that."

As the results were announced, government education chiefs revealed that extension projects would be brought in to make tougher A-levels available to students next year.

But Mr Akers said his students are deserving of their impressive grades.

He said: "Results are improving because students have improved.

"These youngsters have worked as well as anyone else.

"We shouldn't take away from them any of the hard work they have put in."

Budmouth student Cerys Evans racked up a full house of As - achieving five As at A-level.

She received top grades in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and music - an A-level she took at the age of 16.

The icing on the cake for Cerys, 18, was a merit for advanced extension maths.

She will now go on to study maths at Durham University.

Cerys said: "I'm not sure how I'll be celebrating - I may be watching a film or something.

"I don't think A-levels are getting easier, I think you just have to apply yourself differently in exams."

Jake Durston has worked his way to university by taking an Oxford, Cambridge and RSA examination, the equivalent of two A-levels.

Jake, 19, from Weymouth, was delighted to receive A grades in business and IT.

The vocational qualification has given him a route into Portsmouth University to study for a degree in business studies.

He said: "I've put in a lot of effort to get this and am going to see my family and have a celebration tonight."

Jack Dinsey, 18, walked away with one of the top five marks in the country at English Literature and received a congratulations letter from the exam board.

The Chickerell student, who scored three As in English, history and politics, will be taking a gap year and studying in Germany before reading English and classics at King's College.

He said: "The hardest thing is keeping the commitment going in all three A level subjects. I've had so much support from the teachers and a lot of credit must go to them."

Student Lauren Fresle surpassed all her expectations when she scooped three As and a B in art, photography and design and technology graphics and a B in AS-level history.

She said: "I was relieved when I got my results. I didn't sleep very well last night.

"I don't think A-levels are getting easier. I've worked hard in all my subjects and have put in a lot of work because all of my subjects were graded on coursework."

Lauren, 18, will now go on to study architecture at Oxford Brookes University.

Principal Sue Moore said the college achieved across-the-board improvements, especially in English.

She said: "Our English results were outstanding. I always enjoy results day because it's a happy day.

"We're an inclusive further education college and everyone has achieved some sort of success.

"All the students I've seen so far today seem to be going away happy."

The number of Weymouth College students gaining A to B grades has increased by 11 percentage points since 2007 to more than 39 per cent.

In the South West as a whole, 27.2 per cent of students were awarded grade As at A-level - the third placed region behind the South East and London regions.

Some 25 A-level subjects at Weymouth College earned 100 per cent pass rates.

Mrs Moore added: "I am absolutely delighted with these results. They reflect the hard work and total commitment of our students and staff.

"It's ridiculous to suggest that A-levels are getting easier. Our results are testament to the hard work of our students."

Student David Weldon, 17, from Portland, set himself in good stead for university after racking up three grade As at AS-level in geography, law and English language.

His fellow student Matt Butcher, 17, also from Portland, was unable to deliver his good exam results straight away to his family.

He said: "I left my mobile phone charging so will wait to tell them when I get home."

Matt is now looking at university options for 2009, following his A grades in religious studies, sociology and law at AS-level.

College leavers who achieved some outstanding A-level results were Jessie Collings with four As in English language, literature, religious studies and government and politics and Ross Harrison with As in geography, physics and maths.

Also racking up some perfect As were David Lewis with top scores in computing and maths and a grade A in AS-level computing and Georgina Thompson with A grades in maths and psychology and grade A at AS-level maths.

Pass rates soar with schools celebrating record A-C grades

STANDARDS rose at The Woodroffe School after Lyme Regis pupils clocked up a pass rate of 97 per cent at A to E grade, bettering last year's 95 per cent.

Some 45 per cent of these grades were A or B grades, headteacher Richard Steward said.

Outstanding individual performances were seen from Jennifer Blewer with two As and two Bs and from Joe Russell, who passed six A-levels - all at A to C grade.

Other high achievers were Ian Fifer, Hazel Hathaway, Amba Hudson-Skye and Alice Wyatt - all with two As and a B.

Noah Hillyard helped cap off an award-winning year for the school by achieving five As at AS level.

This year, Woodroffe was designated a high performing specialist school and invited to take on additional specialisms in maths and computing.

n A FLAWLESS pass rate was cause for celebration at independent girls' school Leweston School in Sherborne. Sixth form students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, with 77 per cent of the A-level passes at grade A or B.

Last year students achieved a pass rate of 97 per cent.

n A RISING trend was continued at The Blandford School with the best A-level results recorded since 2003.

Contributing to an overall pass rate of 99.1 per cent were Thomas Wills (four A grades) and Thomas Burlton (three As).

Both students will go on to respectively study history and land economy at Cambridge.

Other high performers were Harriet Bryant (four As), Gabriel Reynolds (four As), Stephanie Stringer (four As), Jethro Barker (three As and two Bs), Lauren Findon (three As and one B) and Victoria Rice (two As and 1 B).

Delight as school has 99 per cent pass rate

STUDENTS from Bridport and Beaminster have been celebrating another set of outstanding A and AS level results.

The Sir John Colfox and Beaminster schools' sixth form partnership saw 99 per cent of its pupils gain passes.

Colfox head Kay Taylor said: "I am delighted with these results.

"Students have again worked really hard. For the last few years the A level results in both schools, especially for the top grades have been excellent and this pattern continued this year."

The 99 per cent pass rate is well above the national average and of these 76 per cent of the grades were A to C and 47 per cent A to B.

There were some outstanding achievements. Oliver Tweed had four As while Joseph Horne, Ryan Mitchell, Emily Smith, Cynthia Robertshaw and Katie Churchouse had three As and Martha Michaud three As and a D. Zoe Bevis, Will Bowditch, Laura Dayman all achieved two As and a B.

Mike Best, who is headteacher of Beaminster School, said: "Students across the range of abilities achieved well.

"While there were large numbers of As and Bs, the important thing is that the vast majority of students achieved the grades they needed to go on to what they wanted to do.

"I am delighted that these students have done so well and we are very proud of all they have achieved." Several students scored full marks in some units: Chloe Green in drama, Melanie Oliver in photography, Chloe Woodward in French, Sky Procter in textiles, Natalie Moxom in sociology, Andrew Farmer and Oliver Tweed in maths, Joe Nava, Tanya Remnant and Zoe Bevis in Art, Oliver Tweed in further maths, Felicity Ludgate in English Literature, Oliver Tweed in two physics papers and Jason Boyd, Matthew Fuszard, Natalie Gale and Ryan Halsey in performing arts and Laura Griffith in textiles.

There were some outstanding individual results at AS. Particularly pleasing were the results of sisters Lydia and Eloise O'Donaghue who both achieved four A grades at AS level. Chloe Green, head girl next year at Colfox, also achieved four As as did Zoe Ridd. Caroline Ryder-Dobson, April Foote and Zoe Tremayne achieved three As and a B.

Results mean students set for top universities ASPIRING surgeon Matthew Cox is on his way to Cambridge University after getting an exceptional five A grades at A-level.

He was one of the 345 sixth form students at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester receiving their A-level results and finding out if they were off to the university of their choice.

The school achieved an overall pass rate of 98.5 per cent, which was above the national average of 97.2 per cent.

The school said it was 'especially proud' of its achievements in maths and science with students achieving 59 A grades in maths and 45 A grades in physics, biology and chemistry.

Top achiever Matthew, 18, who lives near Piddletrenthide, gained straight As in maths, further maths, chemistry, biology and general studies.

He said: "I was so excited to get my results, especially getting into Cambridge which was my first choice."

Teacher Peter Rowe said: "Matthew is an exceptional all-rounder and has been very involved with the school and the Youth Parliament both academically and socially."

Matthew will now go on to study medicine for six years at Cambridge University to follow in his father's footsteps to become a surgeon.

A total of 16 other students received four grade As at the school.

One of these students was Megan Burden. She said: "I am off to St Hilda's College at Oxford University which was my first choice.

"I am so happy to get these results after being really nervous."

Megan, who will be going on to read philosophy, politics and economics, added: "Unfortunately I can't celebrate tonight because I have to do my washing-up job at a delicatessen."

Another Cambridge-bound student, Chris Hinde, 18, of Spring Avenue, Weymouth, will now be going on to read further maths after what he calls 'a lot of hard work'. Headteacher Dr Iain Melvin said: "All of our students and staff should be congratulated upon another set of excellent results.

"These very high pass rates mean the school remains at the forefront of A-level results nationally."

At the school 77 per cent of all grades were A to C and 27 per cent were in the top A grade.

Maths, English and science were the best performing subjects and in total 32 subjects gained a 100 per cent pass rate.

Deputy headteacher Julie Taylor said there had been many tears of joy as the students got their results and said she disagreed with suggestions from politicians that A-levels were getting easier.

She said: "The style of exams has changed and there is now much more to offer the individual.

"I wouldn't say the exams have got easier and for example at our school the students can really change the subjects they are more suited to."

Students from Thomas Hardye School also received their AS level results and overall there was a 95 per cent pass rate with 20 per cent getting A grades and 72 per cent achieving A to C grades.