South Dorset students are still top class

11:30am Friday 17th August 2012 in Local News

By Catherine Bolado, Samantha Harman and Rachel Stretton

GREAT RESULTS: Top performing A-level students at Budmouth College

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BUDMOUTH College celebrated more students getting top grades than ever before.

The corridors of the Hub rang with friends chatting about their A-level results, people nervously opening brown results envelopes and people calling their loved ones to tell them their news.

Five students got into Oxford or Cambridge universities and two were accepted to medical school.

Headteacher David Akers said: “A lot of students have fantastic results. We have had more A*-B grades then we have had before. We are delighted with the results.”

He added that the success was due to partnership and hard work on the part of students, teachers and parents.

He said: “We have a fantastically hardworking staff, a wonderful student population and great parents.”

Georgina Allen got A-levels in sport, health and social studies, biology and English language, she will be going to Cardiff University to become a physiotherapist.

She said: “I’m really relieved, I was nervous for ages.

“I’m really glad, I got better than expected.”

Daniel Foley is off to Exeter University to study ‘English with study in America’ after getting an A* in fine art, A in History and A in English literature.

He said: “I am so happy. It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication to succeed. I’m really happy to get the results I worked so hard for.”

Emily Boyce said her results felt ‘amazing.’ She gained three As in chemistry, biology, geography and a B in maths, she is off to Imperial College London to study biomedical sciences.

She said: “It’s amazing, I’m so shocked, I was a bit unsure leading up to it.”

Andrew Wilkinson will be off to study natural sciences at Nottingham University after getting two As in biology and maths and an A* in physics.

He said: “I’m delighted.

“I put in so much hard work over the last two years.”

Hannah Pullen thanked her teachers and especially Doctor Ade Bungay after she got A*s in physics and further maths. Last year she got an A in A-level maths in a year.

She said: “I’m pretty happy.”

Natalie Whittaker said she was ‘excited and nervous’ before getting her results.

“She is now off to Plymouth University to study psychology after getting As in psychology and sociology and a B in English language.

She said: “I’m really pleased. The hard work has all paid off.”

Jay-Jaye White got a text from Exeter University congratulating her before she had even picked up her results. She got three As in psychology, sociology and English language.

She said she ‘wasn’t that nervous’ about the results as she had the text but added: “It’s still exciting.”

‘Results are outstanding’ says headteacher

PUPILS at Thomas Hardye celebrated another record-breaking year of success.

Headteacher Mike Foley said this was the first year youngsters were able to check their results online before coming into school.

The majority of students received results to guarantee their first choice of university, with a 99 per cent pass rate overall and a third of those results at A or A* standard.

Mr Foley said: “These are outstanding results by any comparison and congratulations are due to students and their teachers for all that they have achieved.

“The young people who received their results today should feel justifiably proud and it is worth pointing out that this generation have taken more tests and examinations in their school careers
than any other.”

Lottie Whittingham achieved five A* grades. She said: “I’m really, really pleased. It was really scary this morning, not knowing what I had got, so I was very relieved.”

The 18-year-old will go to study medicine at Imperial College, London.

Fellow student Jonathan Bartlett also plans to study medicine at Cam bridge Univer-sity after achieving A* grades in maths and chemistry, and A in biology.

He said: “I checked my results online this morning, so I knew I had enough to meet my offer, but not by how much.

“I’m very happy and a bit surprised.”

Hattie Stewart, who got A* in maths and A in physics and chem-istry, said her mum will buy her a teapot to use at university to celebrate.

She said: “I was avoiding coming into school to find out my grades for as long as possible this morning, but I was really excited when I found out what I got.

“I’m going to study maths and astronomy at Manchester University.”

And Christie Broom, who was SU president for the year, added: “It’s been a hard year, and it was really nerve-wracking before I found out.

“But it’s nice to have the reward of getting the grades that I needed.

“I still can’t quite take it in, and I know a lot of people will be going out tonight to celebrate.”

She achieved A* grades in English literature and the extended project and A grades in history and classics, and plans to take a gap year to do an internship with a charity before going on to Bible
College.

99 per cent pass rate success

BRIGHT futures await hard-working students who achieved great results at Weymouth College.

A 99 per cent pass rate has confirmed to the college that the re-introduction of more A-level subjects in September will lead to success.

The majority of the college’s A-level tuition was taken away last year, but new principal Liz Myles is keen to bring it back following yesterday’s achievements.

She said: “This has confirmed even more so that we must re-introduce more subjects.

“We’ve got some great results. They are testament to really good teaching and lots of hard work by the students.

“We don’t have a selection process – all we ask of students is that they have five A to C grade GCSEs.

“Those don’t necessarily have to be in the subjects they want to continue at A-level.

“Next week, when school pupils receive their GCSE results and are perhaps disappointed, they should come and talk to us about their options.”

Mum was the word for one A-level student who achieved star results.

Alex Gough was awarded an A* in maths and physics, As in further maths and chemistry and a B in a research project.

The hard-working student, 18, was home schooled by his mum until enrolling at Weymouth College.

He said: “My mum is pretty awesome. I wouldn’t be here without her.

“I’m really pleased with my results- I was a little bit nervous, but I was able to check my results online.”

Alex will now complete a degree with the Open University.

He added: “As I was home schooled, I know that I can work well on that type of course.”

Among those celebrating were mature students and friends Nicki Crawford and Paul Charles.

Nicki, aged 22, received As in psychology, sociology and English language and will go to Warwick University to study sociology.

Paul was awarded As in history and English and a B in psychology and will go to Exeter University and study history.

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