A COLLEGE is celebrating a year of exceptional A Level results despite the challenges faced by pupils during the pandemic.

Varndean College in Brighton achieved an overall pass rate of 99 per cent, with 86 per cent A*to C grades.

Subjects including French, maths, sciences and film achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

Due to the pandemic, grades have been determined by teachers’ estimates this year – based on a mixture of coursework and mock exams – rather than by traditional exam results.

College Principal, Donna-Marie Janson, said; “We are incredibly proud of our students this year, particularly under the extreme circumstances they have found themselves to be in due to the global pandemic.

“They have dealt admirably with all of the uncertainty of the past two years, to the lockdowns, self-isolations and online lessons, as well as huge changes to the system of assessment, taking everything in their stride and continuing to focus.

“They have been inspiring to work with, to teach and to get to know. Our students are quite frankly amazing and they and their loved ones should feel as proud of themselves as we do for their spirited determination and for all they have achieved.”

The college’s A Level accomplishment follows its successful International Baccalaureate results in July, when it achieved a pass rate of 98 per cent and its highest marks ever.

More than 80 per cent of the college’s UCAS applicants were successful, with 78 per cent meeting their firm choice offer and 77 per cent securing places at Russell Group universities.

Hayden Newnham, who attended Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath before moving to Varndean, achieved a perfect score of 45 – comparable to five A* at A Level.

He is currently taking a gap year but will be applying to study modern languages in 2022.

Sammy Doublet with 44 points will read architecture at University College London and Lucy Ayres will study sociology and international relations at the University of Leeds.

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