Students were celebrating at Varndean College in Brighton this morning (Wednesday 16 August) where the A-level pass rate was 97.2 per cent.
The top grades (A* to B) accounted for 56 per cent, up from 48 per cent last year – and 78 per cent achieved A* to C grades, up from 71 per cent.
The college said: “Varndean College is delighted with the success of its students who have once again maintained an impressive record of advanced level results.
“More than two thirds of all A-level subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.
“Visual arts courses (art, graphic design, 3D design, textiles and photography) were particularly impressive.
“Out of the 177 entries, all subjects achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, with 92 per cent of students achieving A* to C grades and 22.6 per cent achieving the prestigious A* grade.
“Varndean College is also proud to offer a comprehensive programme of A-level equivalent vocational courses which many students take alongside traditional A levels. These results are equally impressive.”
Students sat 1,105 sets of A-level exams and the overall pass rate of 97.2 per cent is comparable with last year’s 98 per cent.
Deputy principal Jill Arnold said: “We are extremely proud of the excellent results achieved by our students, particularly in this year when many A levels have changed and become even more challenging.
“Students and staff have worked extremely hard and thoroughly deserve this success.
“Once again Varndean College looks set to have outstanding value added as students have achieved higher grades than their GCSE results originally predicted.”
The college added: “This A-level success follows on from Varndean’s outstanding International Baccalaureate results back in July when 47 IB Diploma students averaged 36 points, the equivalent to three A grades at A level.
“Two students, Maria Gureeva and Naomi Crisp, achieved a staggering 44 points each, putting them in the top 1 per cent of over 90,000 IB students worldwide.”
Dr Sean McEvoy, who retired this summer after 30 years at the college and acted as IB co-ordinator for the past 10 years, couldn’t praise students highly enough.
He said: “The International Baccalaureate is certainly a challenge but it produces confident and articulate young people who know a lot about the world around them and can really think for themselves. It’s been a great pleasure working with them all.”
