Brighton and Hove students celebrate A-level results

Hundreds of students across Brighton and Hove received their A-level results today (Thursday 15 August).

BHASVIC

Brighton, Hove and Sussex VI Form College (BHASVIC) said: “BHASVIC students have once again achieved outstanding results at A level.

“Over 900 students sat A-level examinations in June 2013. An outstanding 98 per cent of students passed overall and 60 per cent have achieved the top A*, A and B grades.

“An exceptionally high number of 22 subjects out of 40 had 100 per cent pass rates.

“Many students gained three or more A grades with an increase in the number of students achieving four A grades.

“Many will be reaping the rewards of their success as they move on to top universities in September.

“Students taking AS levels also achieved excellent results improving again to an overall pass rate of 91 per cent.

“Just over 1,300 students took AS levels at BHASVIC this summer.

“Ninety per cent of all AS students achieved a pass grade with 50 per cent achieving A to B grade.

“BHASVIC prides itself on being ‘open access’ – prospective students can study A levels here if they have achieved five or more grade Cs or above at GCSE.

“BHASVIC builds on students’ GCSE results and then improves students’ achievements still futher from AS to A level ensuring that all students achieve their full potential.”

Chris Thomson, BHASVIC’s principal, said: “BHASVIC has received national recognition for its ability to consistently deliver high quality teaching and learning.

“This is an exciting and nervewracking day and I am proud that once again BHASVIC students have achieved outstanding results.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved: schools, parents and above all our excellent staff and students.”

Varndean College

Varndean College said that it was delighted with the success of its students. It said: “The overall pass rate was 98 per cent with 48 per cent achieving A* to B.

“Seventy one per cent achieved A* to C and two thirds of all subjects achieved a 100 per cent pass rate. The AS pass rate was 86.4 per cent.”

Dr Philip Harland, Varndean College’s principal, said: “Our students continue to demonstrate their hard work and commitment. They thoroughly deserve their success.

“I would also like to thank my staff for their dedication in achieving these excellent results.

“We must remember that behind these figures lie countless individual student success stories at all levels.

“Our A-level success follows our equally impressive International Baccalaureate results in July.

“Once again Varndean College looks set to have outstanding value-added this year.”

Cardinal Newman Catholic School

Cardinal Newman said: “Students at Cardinal Newman Catholic Sixth Form College have achieved some of the best A-level results in the country.

“Eight of our students achieved three or more A grades, with one student achieving four A* grades.

“A further 12 students achieved at least two A grades.

“The students are a credit to themselves, their families and the school.

“They fully deserve their success and I know that they will want to join me in thanking their teachers for the support and advice which has made a big contribution to their success.

“As our sixth form continues to expand we look forward to even greater success in years to come.

“We wish our students the very best for the future, which for many of them will include taking up places at some of the country’s best universities, including Oxford.

“While we are not able to declare the final results (as there may be adjustments made after some papers have been remarked) key headlines include

43 per cent of all entries gained A to B at A level while 70 per cent of entries were graded A to C

Nearly a fifth of all A2 results were graded A* or A

The overall A2 A* to E pass rate was 98 per cent

Five per cent of our Year 13 students gained three or more A* or A grades

Twelve per cent of Year 13 students at Cardinal Newman Catholic School achieved at least two A grades

At AS level a third of all students gained A to B

Hove Park School

Hove Park said that its sixth formers followed last year’s record set of A-level results with a huge increase in the number of students achieving the top grades.

The school said: “Almost 40 per cent of A levels and BTECs taken at the school were awarded an A* to B grade, up from 25 per cent last year.

“The overall pass mark for A levels and equivalents was 99 per cent, an incredible achievement for students and staff at the school.”

Sixth form head Tania Banks said: “We have been working hard all year to ensure that more Hove Park students achieved top grades.

“This success will open doors for our students and we have seen this happen already, with one of our most talented students on her way to Cambridge University in the autumn.”

Hove Park head Derek Trimmer said: “Even though nationally exams are getting tougher, Hove Park School and Sixth Form continues to buck the trend.

“We are always working to narrow the gap between our students and students in the top schools in the country and our sixth form has made a huge leap towards that this year.”

A-level student Molly Edwards will be reading English at Newnham College, Cambridge, when the new term starts.

She achieved prestigious A* grades in her English literature and psychology exams and achieved an A grade in Spanish to secure her place.

Mr Trimmer praised her and her teachers, calling it “an outstanding achievement”. He said: “Molly is a role model for Hove Park students, showing us all what students with high aspirations can achieve.”

Blatchington Mill School

Blatchington Mill School said: “This has been another excellent year for Blatchington Mill Sixth Form results.

“Building upon the success from 2012, where the school got the highest results of the past five years, results are again the best Blatch has ever achieved.

“A fantastic 74 per cent of grades at Level 3 were A* to C, equal to the record achievement of last year.

“In addition 46 per cent of grades at Level 3 were A* to B, the second highest ever achieved at Blatch.

“Our AS students also performed very well, with a quarter of students (28 per cent) gaining A-B grades, whilst just under half (49 per cent) have already banked grade Cs or higher.

“Overall the pass rate at A to E was 89 per cent, again record figures matching our highest ever pass rate achieved last year.

“We are incredibly proud of the hard work of all of our students and staff, and the results reflect their determination to succeed.

“We are pleased at the pass rates indicated above, but also that these results represent positive value-added for the students based on their personal targets, with many exceeding the already challenging individual targets set by the school.”

PACA

The overall A-level pass rate at the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) was 95 per cent and the BTEC pass rate 100 per cent.

The school said: “The proportion achieving two or more A levels (A2 or equivalent) rose from 82 per cent to 86 per cent with 59 per cent achieving three or more.

“As part of the £12.7m refurbishment of its Chalky Rd campus PACA will be opening a brand new sixth form centre in the autumn.”

James Fox, the principal, said: “I would like to congratulate our students and wish them well in their future careers.”

Brighton College

Brighton College said that it was “celebrating yet another terrific year of results”.

The college said: “Named UK School of the Year 2011-12 by the Sunday Times for being the only school in England to improve its results every single year for seven years, Brighton College has done it again, equalling the previous record of grades at A*to B

96 per cent of grades were at A*to B

99.6 per cent of grades were at A*to C

100 per cent of grades were passed

“Incredibly, 97 pupils achieved AAA or better in their results. Twenty one gained A*A*A* – an astonishing achievement.

“Among those celebrating at school today were Cameron Dashwood, the head boy, who achieved four A*s and a place at Cambridge to read natural sciences, Eleanor De, with four A*s and a place at Cambridge to read law, Angus Plummer, with four A*s and a place at Cambridge to study computer science, and Ashkon Seyed-Safi, also with four A*s and a place at Cambridge to study medicine.

“In total, 20 have confirmed their Oxbridge places thus far.”

Brighton and Hove High School

Brighton and Hove High School said: “Sixth Formers at Brighton and Hove High School are today celebrating excellent A-level results.

“With a 100 per cent pass rate, almost half the grades were at A*/ A  and 79 per cent were at B and above, narrowly exceeding last year’s record attainment.

“Ninety five per cent of girls obtained their first choice of university place and all girls with conditional Oxbridge places were successful.”

The head, Jennifer Smith, said: “We have been delighted with the girls’ hard work and commitment and all the staff and governors at Brighton and Hove want to congratulate them on their achievements.

“We are so proud of our sixth form where girls have excelled in such a broad range of subjects (100 per cent A*/A grades in further mathematics, art and dance) and from where we are sending under-graduates to higher education establishments ranging from St Edmund Hall, Oxford, to Imperial College and St Martin’s School of Art.

“We look forward to hearing about our girls’ future successes.”

Roedean

Roedean said: “Results Day at Roedean is about more than just A levels. This year there was an increased profile for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), used in some university offers for the first time.

“Roedean EPQ girls achieved a near clean sweep of A*s and As in a fascinating range of areas.

“Topics included metics in democratic Athens, the evolution of wolves to domestic dogs and the violation of human rights in revolutions.”

Frances King, the headmistress, said: “Our commitment to independent learning – so prized by both universities and employers – is being acknowledged by some outstanding results in the Extended Project Qualification.”

The school said: “Universities value the EPQ because the key skills of independent research, project management, reflection and self-directed learning offer a seamless transition to undergraduate studies.

“And in the 2013 CBI/Pearson Education and Skills report, half of the 300 businesses surveyed said school leavers lack the key attributes that set them up for success, including self-management and problem solving.

“Happily, with these EPQ results, Roedean girls will not be among them.

“The overall A level pass rates are A* to A 54 per cent and A* to C 95 per cent.”

Mrs King said: “‘I am delighted that our additional investment in teaching and learning this year is paying dividends.

“However, it is what the girls now do with these valuable pieces of paper which really counts.”