Students across the borough have been waking up to their A-Level results and schools are once again celebrating some record-breaking grades. With results beginning to drop in from our Accrington sixth forms, it’s clear that hours spent revising and sitting exams have paid off.
Richard Jones, headteacher at St Christopher’s, said the school had enjoyed a record breaking year.
He said: “I am delighted with this year’s record breaking set of A-level results – a 99 per cent pass rate, A*-B grades of 62 per cent and more students accessing top Russell Group universities than
ever before.
“These are our best results and confirm that the sixth form continues to go from strength to strength. Our students deserve all the praise and acclaim that they will receive and I wish them
well – they are a wonderful group of young people. I also want to highlight the dedication and expertise of our talented teachers who have guided and nurtured them through their time
at St Christopher’s.
“We are passionate about raising levels of aspiration and encouraging pupils to aim high and these results confirm that we are doing our job really well.”
Students at Accrington Academy are also celebrating today after achieving outstanding A Level results.
Impressively, nearly half of all entries were graded in the top A* and A bands – a rise of more than five percentage points on last summer’s results. Overall, 86.6 per cent were awarded A* to C grades.
In terms of pure A-Levels, Accrington students continued to perform particularly highly at the top level, with 15 per cent of A Level entries achieving As and A*s.
Principal of Accrington Academy, Andy O’Brien, said: “These results are a great tribute to the hard work of our Sixth Formers and to the staff at Accrington Academy who have taught them so well.
It is always a delightful experience to see your students get the grades they deserve and need for what they choose to do in the next stage of their lives. Today’s results will open up a huge range of choices for many of our students. We are very proud of each of them and know that their success will inspire those entering our Sixth Form in September.”
Alongside the success of the academy as a whole, a number of students performed especially strongly, including Anna Borg, who achieved A* grades in Law and Religious Studies and an A in Psychology, Louise Fielding, with A grades in Law and History and a B in English, Thomas Quraishi-Rewaj, who gained an A* in Business Studies, an A in ICT and a B in History and Henna Duggan, who achieved an A in Religious Studies and Bs in Maths and English and will now go onto Liverpool University.
At St Christopher’s Sarah Akerman, 18, from Clayton-le-Moors achieved A*s in Maths, further maths and chemistry and an A in physics and will now study artificial intelligence at the University of Manchester.
She said: “I’m really happy but in a state of shock. It was more than what I was expecting but it what I was predicted.
“It’s more than what I needed to get into university. For the one’s I got A*s in I was 90 per cent sure but in Physics I had no idea.
“I’m really pleased for my friends as well as I know they’ve worked so hard.”
Other students who were celebrating included 18-year-olds Emma Hindle, from Accrington, Hannah Wilkin, from Oswaldtwistle, and Matthew Buckley, from Burnley.
Emma achieved A*s in biology and geology and an A in chemistry and will no study to become a vet at Edinburgh University.
She said: “I worked really hard for the exams and I’m really pleased. I didn’t expect it.
“I have wanted to be a vet since I was little but I never thought I would be able to do it.”
Hannah gained A*s in sociology, English literature and classics and will now study English with creative writing at Newcastle University.
She said: “It’s been quite nerve-racking the past few weeks as I just wanted to know what I got.
“I was surprised with my results as I didn’t know what I was going to get. I couldn’t tell how I had done.
“I have loved my time at the school and sixth form and it feels like I have always been here. I’m really going to miss it.”
Matthew got A*s in chemistry, physics and maths and will now study physics and Leeds University.
He said: “The effort I put in has really paid off and I’m really pleased.
“I have dreaded results day but I’m glad it’s all over and I finally know. The friends I’ve spoken to have all done really well too which is nice to know.
“I’m going to university but I haven’t though any further beyond that but it will be something sciencey.”
If your child or grandchild is receiving their A Level or GCSE results this summer, get in touch with us and let us know how they have done.
Email accringtonobserver@menmedia.co.uk.
Full results and more reports to come later.
