High achievers celebrate A-level exam success

11:39am Friday 15th August 2008

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All the months of hard work and revision were worth it. That’s what thousands of teenagers across the region found as they celebrated their A/As-level success. Education reporter Haydn Lewis reveals the region’s success stories.

THE hard work has paid off for thousands of students from York, North and East Yorkshire picking up their A-level results.

In York, many schools and sixth form colleges were reporting record breaking results.

Leading the way was York College where almost 1,200 A-level exam entries this summer led to an overall pass rate of 98.1 per cent, an improvement of one per cent on last year’s results and breaking all previous records.

This means that York College’s Alevel results are above the national average for a 14th consecutive year.

Nearly half of the grades awarded were at A or B, a significant improvement of more than five per cent on last year.

Two learners gained a remarkable five A grade passes: William Dowkes and Louis Turner. Six learners gained an outstanding four A grade passes and a further 25 learners gained three A grade passes.

Out of the 4,073 students who took A-level French nationally, York College student Rebecca Troughton achieved one of the top five marks in the country, a wonderful tribute to her hard work.

Martin Chan and Margaret Brooks received the necessary grades to be accepted into Oxford University to study engineering and medicine respectively. Thirty-three subjects, out of the 45 subjects offered, had a 100 per cent pass rate.

Principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw, said: “York College’s best ever A-level results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful students and staff.”

Across the city at Joseph Rowntree School in New Earswick, staff reported the best A-level results it has ever had.

Head of sixth form Sarah Billinge said: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of our students who have worked so hard and are totally deserving of their success.

“In particular we are so pleased with the number of students who have been successful in their applications to medicine and dentistry, which are so competitive, our successful Oxbridge students and the large numbers of students who have gained A grades. We wish all students the very best of luck for the future.”

The school had three students with five A grades: Emma Burbridge, Emily Shaw and Gareth Tear, eight students with 4 A grades: Matthew Bibby, Tom Charlton, Tess Ellison, Michael Harrison, Moin Mustafa, Sophie Roworth, Alby Roseveare and Bethany Sissons.

There were also three successful Oxbridge students: Emma Burbridge (Cambridge, Social and Political Sciences), Tess Ellison (Oxford, English Language and Literature) and Gareth Tear (Cambridge, Natural Sciences).

It was a similar story in North Yorkshire at Easingwold School where Year 13 students achieved Easingwold School’s best ever A-level results.

The overall A-level pass rate was 100 per cent, 53 per cent of grades were A or B and 76 per cent between A and C. 11 students (nearly ten per cent of the year group) achieved straight A grades and 12 gained three or more A grades.

Among those with outstanding achievements were Laura Birkinshaw-Miller, who gained four A grades, an Advanced Extension Award in French and an AS grade A in further maths and B in critical thinking. She has won a place to study law at Cambridge University.

Tom Williamson, has won a place at Cambridge University to read Land Economy after achieving three A grades and a further two A grades at AS-level.

Results for schools and sixth form colleges around the region:

All Saint’s School A-level results

Ampleforth College A-level results

Ashville College A-level results

Bootham School A-level results

Easingwold School A-level results

Fulford School A-level results

Harrogate Grammar School A-level results

Harrogate Ladies College A-level results

Huntington School A-level results

Joseph Rowntree School A-level results

King James’s School A-level results

Lady Lumley’s School A-level results

The Mount A-level results

Northallerton College A/AS-levels

Pocklington School A-level results

Queen Margaret’s School A-Level results

Ripon Grammar School A-level results

Scarborough College A-level results

Selby College A-level results

St Peter’s School A-level results

Thirsk School A-Level results

Woldgate College A/AS-levels

York College A-level results