Schools release A Level results (From Worcester News)

11:22pm

That's all for today's live coverage of A Level results. See tomorrow's Worcester News for the full story.

5:04pm

Statement from Malvern St James:

The school achieved an overall A*-E pass rate of 99.6 per cent with, with 26 per cent of students being awarded the top A* grade and 28 per cent gaining straight A* and A grades.

In total, 61 per cent achieved grades A*-B. For AS Levels, 46 per cent achieved As and 69 per cent got A-B grades.

Headmistress Patricia Woodhouse said: “Each student can expect to leave Malvern St James with an education she can be proud of and which will remain with her for life! We are immensely proud of the girls and all their outstanding achievements; we wish them every success in their future studies.”

4:58pm

Statement from Evesham High School:

The school celebrated 100 per cent of its students achieving an A* -E grade in at least two A Levels, equalling the performance of the previous year.

Deputy headteacher, Phil Humphreys, said the strength of the performance was further underlined by 66 per cent of pupils achieving passes A* - C grades.

He added: “The school is proud to celebrate the diversity and hard work of all out students.” 

4:14pm

Statement from Droitwich Spa High School headteacher Natalie Waters:

Publication of A level results has brought more good news for DSHS. They are, by some distance, the best results the school has ever recorded. This achievement is all the greater in a year when across the country, there has been a levelling off in performance at the very highest level.

Whilst the proportion of students gaining the highest grades fell nationally, here in Droitwich 52% of students gained at least 1 A*-B and 20% gained at least 3 A*-B. Behind these cold statistics lie many stories of individual success, of doors opening and opportunities beckoning.

Our top performers included Robbie Whittacker, who achieved 4 A* in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. Robbie has a place at New College, Oxford to study Maths.

Josella Hunt also achieved 4 A* grades in Biology, Geography, Product Design and General Studies. Josella is off to study Marine Biology at Swansea University.

Sophie Wheeler gained an A* in Philosophy and Ethics, As in General Studies and Biology and a B in Chemistry. She is going to study Clinical Science at Bradford University.

Gemma Mortimer gained an A* in Politics, As in History and French and Bs in German and General Studies.

Charlotte Mawson achieved 2 A*s in Maths and Economics and 2 As in Business and General Studies. Charlotte is going to Lancaster University to study Maths.

Alice Spearing-Brown achieved 2 A*s in Sociology and General Studies, an A in Geography and a C in Biology. Alice is going to study Geography at Birmingham University.

3:46pm

Statement from Worcestershire County Council:

Youngsters in Worcestershire surpassed their performance in previous years, with 96.5 per cent of students achieving two or more A*-E grades compared with 2011's figures of 94.8 per cent.

The percentage of learners achieving three or more A*-E grades also rose from 81.7 per cent last summer to 82.2 per cent in this year.

Councillor Jane Potter, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for education and skills, said: "Worcestershire A Level students have yet again enjoyed a superb performance in their A Level results, which are an improvement on the excellent results of 2011.

"This year's results are a well deserved reflection of the determination and hard work of the students, the skills of their teachers and support of their families.

"With continuing pressure on university places, further education and employment , Worcestershire students have excelled in their achievements and should secure the courses and career paths of their choice."

2:59pm

National outlook:

The national pass rate has risen for the 30th year in a row.
Figures released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) showed 98 per cent of papers received at least an E, a national pass rate which was up from 97.8 per cent last summer and 97.6 per cent in 2012.
Meanwhile, there was a drop in the number of top grades awarded.
Overall, the number of A Levels to receive A* from 8.2 per cent to 7.9 per cent and of all grades issued, 26.6 per cent were As or above. This represents a 0.4 per cent decrease on last summer.
For the first time since the A* grade was introduced in 2010, boys outperformed girls.
At A grade, girls performed more strongly than boys with 27.2 per cent of grades issued to girls at A*-A, compared with 25.8 per cent to boys.
Girls significantly outperformed boys at B grade, with 54.7 per cent and 50.2 per cent receiving the mark respectively.

2:48pm

Statement from Antony Clark, headmaster of Malvern College:

Well done to our A-Level pupils on the excellent results achieved this year.

The College’s pupils achieved 75 per cent A* - B grades, our best ever result, with a 99 per cent pass rate.

Two of the top performers from the College were Nathan King, from Bredon Hill, who attained four A*s and will be going to Queen's College, Oxford, where he has a choral scholarship, to read Physics, and Charlie Lacey from Malvern, who attained three A*s and one A and will be reading Economics at Bristol.

2:48pm

2:23pm

Statement from Hereford Cathedral School:

Sixth form students at Hereford Cathedral School have achieved the best A Level results the school has ever recorded. As was the case last year, a quarter of all grades achieved were at the top A* grade, but this year over three-quarters (79.3%) of all grades achieved were at least a ‘B’ grade and 56.4% of all grades achieved were either ‘A*’ or ‘A’.
Not one student failed an exam, as the school celebrated an impressive 100% pass rate.

Headteacher Paul Smith said: "I am delighted by our superb A-Level results which are getting better and better every year.  These fantastic results are testament to all the hard work of our students and staff.  Our students can now proceed with confidence to the universities of their choice.

"Our A-Level results have once again demonstrated the benefits of small class sizes, high expectations and the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular pursuits."
 

2:20pm

1:30pm

Statement from John Holmes, director of post-16 studies at Tudor Grange Academy Worcester:


We are delighted with the performance of our first cohort of year 13 students. Our pass rate is an excellent 96% and we are pleased that so many of our students achieved top grades, with over a fifth achieving the equivalent of AAB or higher.

Our students made better progress than similar students across the country and many are now looking forward to starting degrees at a variety of exceptional universities. We're thrilled that their hard work and positive attitude have been so well rewarded.

High achievers include David McDonald, who achieved A*AA and still found time to star in our school pantomime and complete a trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp. Jordan Whelan-Clarke and Jennifer Griffiths both attained the maximum mark of a triple starred-distinction on their BTEC courses, equivalent to three A*s.

12:52pm

12:49pm

Hanley Castle High School:

The school's overall pass rate is 98 per cent, with 10 per cent of all grades at A* and 67 per cent at A*-C.

Top performers include headboy Mark Gwilt, who achieved four A*s and will study History at UCL, Claudia Freemantle, who has won a place studying History at Oxford with an A* and two As and Harry Evans, who achieved four As and will study English at Oxford.

Headteacher Lindsey Cooke: "The students have all worked so hard and done so well. The vast majority have won places at their first choice universities, which is fantastic, and we are really proud of them.

"It is not just about the A-Level results. As a year group they have made such a brilliant contribution to the school and the wider community."

12:44pm

Haybridge High School , Hagley, headteacher Caroline Hoddinott:

 I am extremely proud of the students and staff at Haybridge High School and Sixth Form who have worked so hard to achieve these excellent results. It is wonderful to see even better results than last year, especially the increase in the number of students achieving the highest grades. Examination success equates to life chances for our students who are able to pursue their chosen routes into higher education or employment. My thanks go to the students, their families and the staff; achievements like this are always a team effort.

The pass rate was 99.1% and 57.4% of all grades were between A* and B.

12:40pm

Dyson Perrins CE Academy, Malvern, deputy headteacher Stuart Wetson:

A-Level students at Dyson Perrins C of E Academy gained another set of successful results this year.

An impressive 97% pass rate, enabling many of the Academy's students to pursue their chosen university and further education courses.

Hannah Barnbrook secured her place at Surrey University to study International Tourism with an A and two B grades and Charlotte Davis will take up her place at Reading. where she will read Psychology.

There were also some outstanding performances from individual students at AS with Amy Straughan achieving 3 As and a B, head boy Edward Lake 2 As and 2 Bs and head girl Helen Nethaway gaining 2 As, one B and a C, which will no doubt set them up well for the forthcoming year.

We are delighted with the grades our students have achieved. Their results are the reward for all of the effort and hard work that they and their teachers have put in over the years.

62 per cent of grades were between A* and C.
 

12:39pm

12:31pm

12:15pm

Alcester Grammar School:

Improvements in outcomes continue year-on-year and this is especially pleasing in view of our conversion to academy status in 2011 which has allowed the school's management and governors to steer the school's improvement strategy independently and achieve some outstanding performances. 

The pass rate was 100% and 63.1% of grades were between A* and B.

12:08pm

Statement from Newent Community School headteacher Jane Steele:

Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre is a very happy place this morning with the overwhelming majority of  our year 13 students picking up results that allow them to embark on the first choice courses at the universities of their choice.

At all grades, students progressed better than students of comparable ability nationally. 18% of grades achieved were at A or A* grade; the  pass rate  a superb 98%.

Our year 12 students also picked up many excellent AS results  this morning, with a particularly pleasing number of A and B grades. In prospect therefore we will have many more delighted students leaving us in 12 months time.

11:51am

11:50am

Students from RGS Worcester this morning:

11:48am

11:46am

11:43am

Naomi Bull from Worcester Tech.

11:39am

Statement from RGS Worcester:

RGS A Level students were celebrating today, as news of their excellent results came through from the examination boards.

The overall RGS pass rate (grades A-E) was 100%, with 77.7% of subjects taken scoring A*, A and B grades.

The overall achievement at the very top end was really outstanding with 48% of all the A levels taken this year gaining A* or A grades (15% at A*).

Headmaster Andy Rattue was very pleased with the results.

He said: "I am delighted that the hard work of our students has been rewarded, and that they can proceed with confidence to university.

"These results are also a tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the RGS teaching staff, whose attention to detail has helped our students pick their way through the A level minefield."

11:33am

Statement from St Mary's, Worcester:

It is celebrations all round at St Mary’s Worcester, the city’s only girls’ school, where students have achieved the school’s best A-level results in eight years.  

• 100% of students passed their A-levels with grades A* to C
• An impressive 70% of grades were A* or A.  In 2011 this figure was 40%
• 95% of grades were at A* to B

Commenting on the results, Headmistress, Mrs Catherine Jawaheer said: "I am of course delighted that the excellent teaching and learning environment that we create here at St Mary’s has been recognised with the school’s best results for some years.

"But I am even more thrilled for our girls.  Their hard work and commitment to their studies has brought them the grades they so richly deserve and they now stand poised to take up a place in the university of their choice and pursue their chosen paths with confidence."

11:27am

11:23am

Hannah Oliver and Laura Moore celebrate exam success at Worcester Tech.

11:18am

11:17am

11:13am

11:10am

11:09am

Statement from Worcester College of Technology :

Worcester College of Technology students are celebrating today after another impressive year of results for the College.  The high pass rate of 97% achieved last year has been maintained and students are proud of their achievements. Emily Craven who achieved 1 C and 2 Bs is going to study Sociology at Gloucester University, she said ‘the College staff have really helped me to get these grades, I didn’t think it was possible and I am both pleased and relieved to be taking my place at Uni’.

Students have successfully achieved the grades they need to progress to university and jobs and the college is even more pleased about the success of their highest achievers with impressive AAB profiles.  In all the College received a 100% pass rate in 16 of its 21 subjects, an impressive statistic particularly when you consider that the College had 18% more students this year.

Head of A levels, Mark Kirby said, ‘Our students will be progressing into a wide variety of courses across the UK; Law at Exeter and Nottingham University, Physics at Aberystwyth which is one of the top universities for science, Health & Social Care at Worcester and Psychology at Aston University’.

High achievers included: Naomi Bull and Mohammed Rushdi with AABB, Emily Bradbury with AAB, Sally Barnett with ABB and Danielle Hunt with AABC.  All are taking up places at prestigious universities across the UK.

11:04am

11:04am

10:53am

Bromsgrove School headmaster Chris Edwards:

To secure these sensational averages in a year when many bright pupils had actually opted for the International Baccalaureate and achieved equally stunning outcomes a month earlier is nothing less than remarkable. Staff, pupils and parents should be bursting with pride. And we are doing this in the subjects that really matter. These young men and women will make a difference in and to the future.

87.3% of all grades were between A* and B.

10:49am

Statement from Holy Trinity - Kidderminster

A Level students at Holy Trinity International School in Kidderminster are delighted following the announcement of this year’s examination results.

Top performers at A2 were Abigail Yapp securing A* in Art/Textiles, and Faith Ross with the highest points score of 590.

The AS top performer was talented artist Melissa Page with outstanding results in her Art/Textiles, which was the top performing department securing a brilliant set of results across the board for its students.

Holy Trinity International School’s Head Teacher, Mrs Pam Leek-Wright commented: “I am delighted for our students’ personal achievements.

“We have a very small, non selective sixth form, with our focus being personal improvement, which we attain for our students year on year; with this year.”
 

10:49am

Pershore High School headteacher Clive Corbett:

The continued high performance of our Sixth Form students is something that I am proud to acknowledge. I would like to offer them my best wishes in their future endeavours. 

The pass rate was 99.5% and 51.7% of all grades were between A* and B.

10:48am

10:47am

10:47am

10:42am

10:33am

John Masefield High School, Ledbury, headteacher Andy Evans:

Once again the hard work of students, inspirational teaching from staff and strong support from parents has resulted in great success for our Sixth Form Students. It is fantastic to see the efforts and endeavours rewarded and every student has deserved their success. We are proud of each and every one of our students and wish them continued success in the future.

The pass rate was 99.5% and 39% of entries were A* or A.

10:33am

From Worcester College of Technology

10:23am

Principal of Worcester Sixth Form College, Michael Kitcatt:

I am delighted that our students have again done better than the national average.  This success is a reflection of the hard work of staff and students and of our staff expertise and specialism.  We are committed to providing the very best careers guidance and support to our students and, thanks to this and the excellent results that they achieve, their success rate in obtaining university places through UCAS is much higher than the national average.

The pass rate was 98.3% and 73.6% of the grades were between A* and C.

10:18am

9:57am

9:54am

9:50am

The Headmaster of King's School, Worcester, Tim Keyes:

King’s is very proud of its pupils achieving a pass rate of 100% at A level for the fourth year running.  As well as having no failures, there were only 17 grades below a C out of 434 A level results.  58.5% of all grades achieved were A*s or As.  We were very pleased that our pupils between them received 85 A* grades.   We remain proud that we do not offer any subject at A level which is not well regarded by good universities and that 38% of all exams taken were in Maths and the Sciences.  All our Oxford and Cambridge candidates have secured their places.  The great majority of the year group have achieved the first choice university places for which they aimed.

I congratulate the boys and girls on these excellent results.   They have been a delightful set of students to teach and many have also achieved amazing things in their wider activities.  They have been very supportive of each other and very organised and mature in their working habits.   Their parents should be very proud of them.  They are more than ready to embrace the challenges of adult life and many, we know, will go on to be leaders and high achievers in their professional careers.

I want to pay tribute to the teachers at King’s who have so often gone the extra mile in helping these students.  Excellent working relationships between staff and students are at the heart of success at A level here. 

9:46am

Statement from The Chase

The breadth and quality of achievement of The Chase’s Sixth Form students was demonstrated again this year by the highest ever average points score per subject entry and the second highest ever point score per student, improving even on last year’s impressive performance.

The pass rate was 99.5% and more than half of all grades were between A* and B.