Exam joy for Axe Valley A level students

Students across the Axe Valley and West Dorset are today (Thursday) celebrating another set of outstanding A level results.

At The Axe Valley Community College overall results were above last year’s and showed a further improvement in the high standards being achieved in recent years.

The A* to E rate was an impressive 94 per cent while the A*-C rate was 67 per cent. The average A level points score per student was 677.89.

The highest performing students were Jayme Barlow (two As and two Bs), Andrew Davis (A*, B,C), Rowena Trott (two As and a B), Alex Pollard (two Bs and two Cs), Ellis Bee (B,C, Double Distinction (A*A*) in sport).

Deputy headteacher John Mythen told The Herald: “We are delighted with the results. Many students have performed superbly and we are proud of their achievements. Results were particularly pleasing in mathematics, English literature, textiles, sociology, art and photography where over 75 per cent of students achieved grades A* to C.

“We would like to wish our Year 13 leavers good luck for the future, whether that be at university, training or employment.

“I would also like to thank staff for their tremendous hard work in supporting Year 13.”

* At Colyton Grammar School students are celebrating excellent A level results with 17 achieving three or more top A* grades. Some 90 per cent of the grades awarded were between A* and B with 13 students accepted to Oxbridge, six to medical schools and two to read dentistry.

Headteacher Paul Evans said that 95 per cent of the year group had already been accepted on the country’s most competitive university courses, but with the introduction of higher tuition fees, other students have been waiting to see their results before making a commitment to university.

“Some very high achieving students have already made the decision to take other routes,” he said.

“It’s always gratifying to see students reach their potential and I’d like to thank staff for the hard work they have put in to help students who are to be congratulated on their achievements.”

Notable achievements include: Tom Pearson, of Colyton, (5 A*, 1 A), Phoebe Hill, of Lyme Regis (5 A*), Jamie Wells, of Branscombe (5 A*), Josh Matthews, of Ottery St. Mary (4 A*, 2 A) Daisy Flanagan, of Honiton (4 A*, 1 A) Sammy Wallace, of Kilmington (4 A*, 1 A, 1 B) Claire Machin, of Ottery St. Mary (4 A*, 1 B) Alex Styles, of Musbury(4 A*, 1 C)

Students at The Woodroffe School, Lyme Regis, also achieved excellent results at A Level, with most attaining or exceeding their target grades.

The overall pass rate, reflecting the percentage of grades A*-E, was once again 99 per cent, with 42 per cent of students gaining an A*, an A or a B.

There were some outstanding individual performances. Duncan Love achieved two A*s and an A grade; Celia Cruwys-Finnigan and Tom Clarke both gained three straight As; Robyn Lewis achieved two A*s and a B; Katie Smith an A*, an A, a B and a C; and Edward Firman, Juliet Hilder and Hazel Hurn two As and a B each.

Results were even more impressive at AS level. Scarlett Down achieved five A grades in Art, History of Art, Biology, English and Geography; Kristian Beckers achieved five A grades in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and the Extended Project Qualification; Alice Gay four As and a B; Adele Davies gained four As; Jack Rumens three As, a B and a C; Ben Sivier Voller, three As and a D.

Headteacher Dr Richard Steward said: “As ever, this is a very impressive set of results and I am delighted that so many of our students have done so well. I am particularly pleased that the vast majority have secured places at the universities of their choice and I wish them every success in the future.

“A-Level students work incredibly hard nowadays and, though it is fashionable to assume that standards have declined, the amount of work sixth formers now have to do has made gaining qualifications at this level in many ways much harder that it used to be.

“Students now have to take modules throughout the year, as well as examinations at the end of the course, and they also have to complete some very demanding coursework assignments. They also tend to take four AS levels and then go on to take three A Levels, with some tackling additional qualifications like the extended project, critical thinking or general studies. The hard work of A-Levels students should not, therefore, be underestimated, nor should we forget the added pressures caused by the demands of the university system and the increasing competition for places.

“Finally, I am sure that the students would also wish me to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the teaching staff at Woodroffe who work tirelessly to help students achieve the best results they can.”