Brighton and Hove schools and colleges report higher A-level pass rates

The two sixth form colleges in Brighton and Hove have reported higher pass rates today (Thursday 16 August).

Brighton, Hove and Sussex VI Form College (BHASVIC) said that the overall A-level pass rate this year was 98.2 per cent – up from 98 per cent last year.

Some 58 per cent of students achieved A*, A or B grades, compared with 59 per cent last year.

Varndean College said that the overall pass rate had risen from 97.3 per cent to 97.9 per cent.

And the proportion achieving A*, A or B grades rose to 58.5 per cent from 52 per cent last year.

The number of pupils at Cardinal Newman Catholic School who passed their A levels rose from 449 to 451.

BHASVIC students celebrate their A-level results

The number who achieved A*, A or B grades rose from 212 to 219 – or 47.5 per cent of those sitting the exams. The school said that this was its best set of results.

Blatchington Mill also recorded its best results. The school said that the number of pupils passing their A levels rose from 112 last year to 189.

Those who achieved A*, A or B grades rose from 45 last year to 95. Half of all the grades achieved by Blatchington Mill students were at A* to B.

At Hove Park all 156 students passed their A levels compared with 139 last year, with 41 achieving A*, A or B grades.

Portslade Aldridge Community Academy principal Stuart McLaughlin said: “PACA 6th form students were really excited about their results this morning.

“They have been rewarded for all their hard work in their studies.

“The results were very encouraging and show a pleasing improvement on last year.”

Brighton and Hove City Council said that it had worked closely with schools and colleges over the past two years, encouraging partnership working and a commitment to shared excellence.

The council has funded a sixth form leadership development programme with the London Institute of Education.

It said that it remained committed to continuing this work, as did schools and colleges, and to achieving even greater improvements in future years.

The council pointed out that academic A levels would not be the right route for all students.

It said that it was important to recognise the many other ways in which students were achieving good results – on vocational courses, apprenticeships and through foundation learning.

Councillor Sue Shanks, chairman of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “Congratulations to students and teachers in delivering what are excellent results.

“With such high pass rates and a rise in the quality of grades for many, these results should confirm that the city continues to play host to high achieving schools and sixth form colleges.

“We are particularly pleased that the numbers of our students achieving higher grades is rising significantly which is a huge achievement particularly as it appears that nationally the numbers achieving higher grades are declining.

“These are exciting times for 16 to 18 year olds in the city and we will continue to work tirelessly with schools and colleges to strengthen learning and achievement still further.

“But post-school education is not just about examination results. The city also offers excellent vocational courses such as the excellent provision at City College and foundation learning programmes such as those at Varndean College with the Crew Club in Whitehawk.”