Bumper year for A level results

11:38am Saturday 16th August 2008

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BY any standards it has been a bumper year for A level results in Bexley.

From students with the perfect score, to schools with their first Oxbridge place, it has been success all round for both selective and non-selective schools.

Bexley Council says the early figures show a big improvement on last year.

Overall, the pass rate in the top three grades increased from 73 to 75 per cent, the fifth annual increase in a row.

Total passes are up from 98 per cent last year in the borough as a whole, to 98.9 per cent this year.

Bexleyheath, Welling and Cleeve Park schools enjoyed their best results for four years.

• The Bexley Business Academy, Yarnton Road, Thamesmead, had a 98 per cent pass rate for its 23 students who sat A level and BTEC level three.

Passes at A and B were 45 per cent and 63 per cent of passes were in the top three grades.

The majority of the business students achieved the top two grades.

Principal, Duncan Spalding said: "This clearly demonstrates the academy's specialism is having a major impact on helping our students access further and higher education, as well as employment."

The academy says its results are a significant improvement on previous years and judged on the average Qualification and Curriculum Authority's point score, makes it among the most improved schools in the country.

It says the results are an encouragement to its expanding 6th form which has grown from 20 students in 2003 to more than 200 this September.

Mr Spalding described the results as "a tremendous success".

He added: "The fact our students have achieved results in line with national pass rates, with our first full cohort of A level students, clearly shows the academy offers an improving standard of education post 16."

He praised the work of the students and the staff saying: "We are really proud of the achievements of our students.

"They are wonderful young people who bring a real vitality to the life of the academy."

• Bexley Grammar School, Danson Lane, Welling, announced the school's best ever results with 100 per cent passes, 66 per cent at grades A and B.

In all, 197 students sat 694 exams Head teacher Rod Mackinnon described them as "very pleasing".

He added: "The students and staff have worked very hard and, with the support of parents, have secured the best results in the school's history."

• Blackfen School for Girls, Blackfen Road, Blackfen, is celebrating its first Oxford entrant after students scored a 98 per cent success rate in this year's exams, with 26 per cent of passes at A or B and 52 per cent at A to C.

Top student among the 86 taking the exams, was Hayley King who achieved three straight As in maths, biology and chemistry, will now study biological sciences at Oxford.

Other high achievers were Danielle Hardie ( AAB in biology, French and psychology); Rachel Daniels (AAB in health and social care, sociology and history); Sara Taylor (AAC in health and social care, sociology and art); Tolu Jaiyebo (AACC in sociology, law, history and business studies) and Emma Beech (AAD in English, biology and chemistry).

Head teacher Matthew Brown said the results had been "fantastic".

He added: "As a school we are delighted with the results.

"My congratulations go to all the students.

"They have worked hard throughout all their courses and have been fully supported by outstanding teaching at the school."

• Bexleyheath School, Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, has a sixth form partnership with Welling and Erith schools.

It achieved a 96.4 per cent pass rate, with 54 per cent at A to C grades.

Among its outstanding students were Robert Craft with AAB and Harry Hunter, Melissa Jackson, Leo Tsang and Beth Fillingham-Douglas with ABC.

Head teacher Paul O'Brien said the results were a "fantastic achievement." which he added was " a tribute to the consistent hard work of the students and staff".

He said: "The results prove the benefit of working as part of the Partnership Sixth, enabling students to access a wide range of courses, and to succeed."

• James Skinner, head teacher of Beths Grammar School, Hartford Road, Bexley said he was "very happy with this year's results".

Eight students achieved straight As and the pass rate was 99.6 per cent with 49 per cent achieving A or B.

Top performer was James Kemp, who received maximum score in his history exam and achieved three other exams results at A grade. He has a place at Cambridge to read law.

Another star was Graeme Morrison, who is also off to Cambridge to study engineering after achieving AAAA in maths, further maths, German and physics and A in AS level biology.

Other top performers were Richard Gunther, Tom Morgan and Josh Wilson with four As, and Nick Yandle, Matt Neale and Jonathan Groom with three As.

Mr Skinner added: "The students have achieved an excellent standards and deserve much praise, along with their hardworking teachers."

• Erith School, Avenue Road, Erith, has 54 students off to university and deputy head Simon Price-Whittle said the school was "absolutely delighted".

The overall pass rate was 95.2 per cent, with 60 per cent passing with the top three grades, a nine per cent increase.

Top students were Sarah Jackson (AAAB in English literature, media studies, history and film studies); Mark Shead (AAAB in English literature, history, media studies and politics); Christina Garnham (AAB in product design, psychology and business vocational); Cathy Dadds (B in sports/pe studies and double distinction in performing arts) and Chloe Howard (AAB in English literature, history and media studies).

Other top performers were Deborah Ingram (BBBB), Leanne Marchant (ABBC), Olunbunmi Farinmade (ABCC) and Lucy Pilgrim (BBCC).

Mr Price-Whittle said: "We are all absolutely delighted with these splendid results.

"We have seen hugs, whoops of delight and tears of joy.

"That goes for teachers, governors, students and parents, who have all played their part in our students success."

He added: "We are expecting 54 of our students to be off to university.

"They are now equipped with advanced qualifications from Erith School that will give them real confidence.

"A bright future lies ahead of them. Ten out of ten. Well done."

• St Luke's Catholic 6th Form College, Chislehurst Road, Sidcup, achieved a 98.4 per cent success rate.

Acting principal, Jim Flannery, described the results as " a sustained and marked improvement on results since 2006 (when the college opened)".

• Townley Grammar School, Townley Road, Bexleyheath, was another school with 100 per cent passes, and A and B grade passes reached 67 per cent.

Among its top students from the 199 who sat the exams were Marianne de Brito who got five As and Joanne Alexander, Gloria Arnede, Hoi-Man Cheng, Ka Wai Cheng, Noor Mahdi, Katie Wyvill, Shirley Wong, Folusho Fabowale-Makinde, Alex Glennister and Theba Krishnamoorthy with four A grades each.

A further 24 students achieved three straight As and the school has four Oxbridge students.

Linda Hutchinson, head teacher described it as "an excellent year".

She said she was delighted with the results which she said "reflect the hard work and commitment of students and their teachers".

• Two students at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Hurst Road, Sidcup, are also off to Cambridge.

The pass rate among its 185 students, who took 582 exams, was 99 per.

The school said it was particularly proud of four students, Todd Cutting, Harald Carlens, Hannah Keen and Natalie Podd who achieved five grade As.

Four more students achieved four A grades each and another 14 students were awarded three straight As.

Head teacher, Dr Joe Vitagliano said: "We are all looking forward to even better results next year."

He added: "The improvement in the A level results is a real tribute to the hard work and commitment of all the staff and students at the school.

"The vast majority of students have been accepted on university courses, including two at Cambridge."

• Trinity School CofE School, Woolwich Road, Belvedere, is also celebrating some outstanding individual performers among its 100 per cent pass rate.

With 64 per cent at A to C grades, and 39 per cent at A and B grades, Ian Collins, head teacher, described them as "wonderful results" for the 43 students who took 118 exams.

Outstanding students included Beryl Otiens with AAAC who is off to study at the London Fashion School; Michael Healey with AABB who will study history and philosophy of art at Kent University; head girl Chloe Mace with ABBB who will study primary education at Roehampton and Katie Rutt with AAA who is going to art college.

Hayley Grant, Jenny Staley and Claire Sweeney all achieved three Bs while head boy Sam Francis, Emma Page and Marie Mansfield gained BBC.

Mr Collins said: "All this year's A level students have been at the forefront of development and innovation throughout their time at the school.

"They were an excellent year group; students who have made a tremendous contribution to all aspects of school life, in and out of the classroom."

He added: "These wonderful results, individually and as a group, are the just, well-deserved and expected reward, for all their efforts and the excellent learning partnership they have had with their teachers."

• Top grades at Welling School in Elsa Road, Welling, have risen from 40 per cent last year to 67 per cent, and at Cleeve Park School in Bexley Lane, Sidcup, from 49 per cent to 58 per cent.

• Also watch the video of pupils receiving their news at newsshopper.co.uk