Joy and relief as teens celebrate A-level results (From The Argus)

Joy and relief as teens celebrate A-level results

10:10am Thursday 16th August 2012 in News By Ben James

JOY AND RELIEF: Students are collecting theri A-level results

Schools and colleges across Sussex are today celebrating another glowing year for A-levels.

From 8.30am, thousands of teenagers across the county have been learning whether they have got into their dream university or failed to make the grade.

See our picture gallery by clicking here: http://www.theargus.co.uk/photos/2012/alevel_results_2012/

The tears at Brighton’s Varndean College are sure to be of joy, with a reported 97.7% pass rate and 58.5% of pupils achieving A* to B grades.

This is up on last year’s 97.3% and 52% respectively. College principal Dr Philip Harland said: “Our students have shown what they can do through hard work and commitment – they thoroughly deserve their success.

“I also want to pay tribute to the efforts of my staff which have resulted in a 2% improvement on our A* to C pass rate, which was already outstanding.”

At Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College an impressive 98.2% passed, up from 98% last year.

The number of pupils gaining the top A* to B grades was down just 1% on last year, at 58%.

Chris Thomson, BHASVIC’s principal, praised the outstanding achievements of his students.

He said: “We have received national recognition for our ability to consistently deliver high quality teaching and learning.

“This is an exciting and nerve-racking day and I am proud that once again, our students have achieved outstanding results.”

Just down the road, at the Brighton and Hove Girls’ High School, staff and students are celebrating a 100% pass rate.

The school also achieved a 100% Oxbridge success rate, with the three girls who applied all getting the grades for the country’s top universities.

Headteacher Lorna Duggleby said: “We are very proud of our sixth form, which is a very inclusive one, welcoming girls with a wide range of ability and interests.

“We applaud the very high number of girls who have achieved the top grades and are delighted with the 100% Oxbridge success.

“We are just as pleased with the girls who have worked their hardest and done their best, even if their grades do not feature in the top grades.”

Among the other schools reporting outstanding grades is Roedean Independent Girls’ School, where one pupil scored an incredible five A* grades.

Brighton College has also achieved its best ever results, with 96.3% of all their grades at A* to B.

Sussex Downs College in Lewes reported an overall pass rate of 99% with 76% achieving A* to C.

Worthing College recorded a 97% pass rate with 42.2% achieving A* to B, and every pupil at Burgess Hill School for Girls passed with 96.7% gaining A* to C.

Headteacher Ann Aughwane said: “The excellent grades represent a real accomplishment.”

At Lancing College, 27% of all candidates achieved at least three A grades, nine candidates achieved at least 4 As and four achieved at least 5 As.

33% of all candidates achieved at least 1 A* grade.

Lancing’s average of A-B grades (now also including A*) for the last nine years is 82.8%.

Headmaster Jonathan Gillespie said; "These A-level results are broadly in line with our expectations for this year’s Upper Sixth Form. There are a significant number of successes to celebrate, in both absolute and value-added terms.

"My warm congratulations go to the leavers on their achievements which are a testament to their hard work and enthusiasm for learning."

Among the students to be highlighted were:

• David Brueckner from Germany gained 5 A*s and will read Natural Sciences at Cambridge
• Tahu Uheba from Haywards Heath gained 3 A*s and 1A and has a place to study at Columbia University, New York
• Silas Lee, formerly from Brighton, but now living in Grantham gained 1 A* 2 As. He will read Education with English and Drama at Cambridge
• Felix Aylett, Head Boy, from Wimbledon, gained 2 A*s 1 A. He will read History at York after a gap year
• Tim Longden from Hove gained 4 As and will read Geology at Bristol. He is also an outstanding cross country runner
• Hector Loughton from Burgess Hill gained 3 As and will read Classics at St Andrews
• Sophie Prichard, Head Girl, from Ashington gained 1 A* 1A and 1B and will read Modern Languages at Exeter.

St Bede’s Senior School in Upper Dicker is celebrating its best ever A-level results.

Nearly half of all grades awarded were A or A*.

This summer’s results show an increase in A* - B grades to 72% and represent an improvement of more than 15% against the school’s performance five years ago.

Students celebrating include Anna Hutchins, of Barcombe, who will be studying Medicine at King’s College London having achieved 3 A* grades and an A; Naomi Pearl, of North Chailey, who will take a place reading English at Cambridge having achieved A* grades in all her subjects; and Henry Todman, from Rotherfield, whose 3 A*and 2 A grades take him to Warwick, where he will study Mathematics.

Alice Lynch, from Hailsham, earned  2 A*grades, and 3As, and will be studying Chemistry at Warwick; while Victoria Stapley, also from Hailsham, earned 3 A* and  1 A will be going to study optometry at Cardiff.