Varndean achieves best International Baccalaureate results among colleges

International Baccalaureate students at Varndean College have achieved the best results of any college in the country.

The college said: “Our students achieved some of the very best results of any state school in the country, with nearly half of the subject grades awarded at the highest levels (IB 6 and 7).

“The course, which requires students to take a wide range of academic subjects at a challenging level, is recognised worldwide as an excellent preparation for university.”

International Baccalaureate co-ordinator Sean McEvoy said: “They have been a brilliant bunch of young people to work with.

“They have worked hard but really enjoyed it and gained a great deal. They are now off to an impressive range of universities.”

Dr McEvoy said: “Last year we had the best results of any college in the UK, with five students going on to take up places at Oxford or Cambridge. This year they are nearly as good.”

Amy Gwyther, who achieved 41 points, was the top-scoring student. She is off to study medicine at Southampton University.

Cloe Ofori, who achieved 40 points, will read arts and sciences at University College London.

And Joe Boyle, who achieved 39 points, is going to Edinburgh University to study environmental and ecological science.

He said that he chose the IB because he liked the way that it was taught, adding: “You are actually learning your subject in depth, not just learning to pass the tests.”

Varndean College students averaged 34 points each.

And the college said that the course remained popular with more than 50 students accepting places to start the IB in September.

A-level students at the college, in Surrenden Road, Brighton, will learn their results on Thursday (15 August).