Celebrations as A-level results show rise again

THOUSANDS of city sixth-form pupils are today celebrating after collecting their A-level results.

Young people in schools and colleges in the city picked up their results yesterday morning — and many got what they needed to get into their first choice university.

Others, however, will have a nervous wait as the annual ‘clearing’ system for university begins.

Full results from Plymouth schools will not be available for some months, but they are expected to follow the national trend — which saw results rise for the 28th year in a row.

The overall A* to E grade pass rate for the country yesterday was 97.6 per cent, a rise of 0.1 per cent on last summer’s results.

Nationally, one in 12 A-level exams was awarded an A* grade — the new top grade, launched this year. More than one in four entries, 27 per cent, were awarded an A grade — up from 26.7 per cent last year.

But there have been warnings that many pupils face rejection from universities in the clearing process.

By the end of June, more than 660,000 people in the country had applied to start full-time undergraduate university courses. It has been predicted that between 170,000 and 200,000 could miss out this autumn as universities face multi-million-pound cuts and pressure on places.

However, many pupils were jubilant yesterday. At Eggbuckland Community College, about 200 pupils received their results, with the “vast majority” of 83 pupils who applied to go to university getting into their first choice.

Elspeth Dymond, 18, got an A*, an A and two Bs, and was accepted into Southampton University. She said: “I was worried in case I had missed out by one grade because of university places being cut — but it feels great that the wait is now over!”

Sam Lyons, 18, got three As and an A*. He has offers from Bristol and Plymouth universities but will go off to think again now. He said: “I scored a lot more points than I needed to get into either university, so I’m pretty pleased. I expected to get mostly Bs.”

Katrina Borowski, principal, said: “We are delighted with the success that our students have demonstrated. It was the result of a great deal of hard work and commitment.”

Pupils at Kelly College in Tavistock enjoyed a 100 per cent pass rate, with 36.2 per cent with A* and A grades.

Tavistock College entered 186 pupils compared to 148 last year, notching up a 100 per cent pass rate in subjects like French, Italian and geography. Pupils achieved 90 As and 35 A*s.

Plymouth College saw more than a quarter of its students achieving at least one A*, with Ed Knight and Tom Li securing three A* grades each. The overall pass rate was 97 per cent, with an A* to B grade pass rate of 62 per cent.

Torpoint Community College saw 60 per cent of pupils achieving grades of A* to C, with 18 subject areas achieving 100 per cent pass rates. And Saltash.net Community School chalked up a 99 per cent pass rate, with 73 per cent at A* to C — 5 per cent higher than last year.

At Ridgeway School in Plympton, Tanya Flower achieved three A*s and an A. Headteacher John Didymus said: “We hope that the majority of our students are able to gain their preferred university place — but have a team of staff ready to help advise them if it is necessary.”

A total of 179 Year 13 pupils at Ivybridge Community College achieved pass rates of nearly 97 per cent, with 47 per cent of the results at B grade and above.

At Plymstock School, head teacher David Farmer said that ‘large numbers of sixth-formers will be going off to their chosen universities’.

Lipson Community College said it was ‘another outstanding year’. Principal Steve Baker said: “In a particularly challenging year I am delighted that all of our students have attained university places.

“A-levels continue to be very demanding with two years’ worth of examinations and tests really pushing students to the limit. All credit to this generation.”

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