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15
Aug
Students celebrate A-level results day across Harrogate district
Today (August 15) is the long-awaited A-level results day.
Final marks for A-levels, as well as B-Tecs and T-levels, were released to students at 8am today following exams in May and June.
GCSE results will be revealed next week.
But older students across the Harrogate district have been celebrating their results and are now looking ahead to the future.
Students from the Associated Sixth Form of St Aidan’s and St John Fisher
St Aidan’s and St John Fisher
The associated sixth form of the two schools is celebrating what it described as the "highest set of results achieved for many years".
The percentage of students achieving grades A*-A has increased to over 30% with over 80% of students gaining A*-C grades.
Students taking the applied general courses have once again excelled, with nearly 50% of the cohort achieving a distinction* or distinction grade.
More students than in previous years have secured places on their preferred route of career or further study whether that be university, apprenticeships, or the world of work. Several students have achieved a full set of A*/A grades in all subjects.
Steve Mort, headteacher of St John Fisher, said:
With national speculation that grades would be down on previous years, we are absolutely thrilled that we have achieved our best results yet. The results for this cohort are even better than those of 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2023, and we could not be more pleased for all of our students.
Siân Dover, headteacher of St Aidan’s, said:
We are so proud of all of our students and staff, and they thoroughly deserve this phenomenal set of results. To achieve results that are better than before the pandemic shows how the commitment and care put in for each individual student has really paid off. These young people have worked so hard, and we want to congratulate each and every one of them.
Queen Ethelburga's students
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate
Students from both of the Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate independent senior schools received their A Level and BTEC results.
Across the two schools the combined percentage of A*/A grades at A Level today is 78%, with the percentage of BTEC Distinction* and distinction grades reaching 73%.
Students have achieved places at Oxford, Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, Durham, King’s College London, University College London and Bath.
Principal Daniel Machin said:
We are immensely proud of our Year 13 students – for today’s results, for the people they have become in their time with us at QE and for the well-rounded, resilient and ambitious adults they will go on to become.
Harrogate Ladies College students celebrating
Harrogate Ladies’ College
Overall, 50% of grades at Harrogate Ladies' College were A*-B, and almost 75% were A*-C, with over a third of students going on to study STEM related subjects at university.
Students will now move on to Russell Group universities, plus prestigious specialist schools such as the University of the Highlands and Islands for Marine Sciences, a culinary school in Switzerland, and a programme in Film Making.
Principal Sylvia Brett said:
Our students' exceptional A-Level results this year are a testament not only to their hard work and determination but also to the unwavering dedication and support of our outstanding teachers.
King James's School results day
King James’s School
The Knaresborough sixth form has 115 students this year.
An increase in students achieving the top grades means 83% have been accepted onto their first choice universities and 5% their insurance choice.
Clare Martin, headteacher of King James’s School, said:
We are delighted for our students, staff and our whole school community. King James’s is a thriving sixth from where students genuinely flourish. It is a joy to see students achieving the recognition they deserve and to know they have secured their next steps at university or with employers.
Harrogate Grammar School results day
Harrogate Grammar School
Of 326 students, a third of grades were A*-A, up 3 per cent on last year, with 10 different subjects showing a significant increase in the number of A*-A grades. A total of 22 students achieved at least three or more A*s.
A total of 288 students (88 per cent of the year group) applied to university to study a range of courses. Over 75 per cent of applicants have gained places at their first-choice university and 90 per cent achieved places overall.
All four Ukrainian students secured places at university, eight students achieved places at Oxbridge and five students gained places on medicine courses.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Grammar School said:
We wish our students all the very best in their future studies, employment, or gap year. We hope that life serves them much happiness and that they make a profound difference in their chosen field.
Rossett School students with headteacher (left)
Rossett School
Fifteen per cent of Rossett School’s A-level grades were A* to A, and 39 per cent A* to B. Students also achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in their BTECs, with 75 per cent graded at Distinction*/Distinction or Merit. Several students achieved three or more A* or A grades.
Headteacher Tim Milburn said:
Today is the culmination of years of commitment, effort and dedication and it has been lovely to share with our students that moment when the nerves and anticipation turns to joy and celebration as they get the grades they have deserve.
The vast majority of students have achieved the grades they need to pursue their desired next steps either at university, further study elsewhere, or in their chosen professions. We are so proud of all our students today.
Ripon Grammar School students on A-level results day
Ripon Grammar School
More than 70 per cent of all grades achieved at the school were A* to B and 43 per cent at A* to A, with two students achieving a clean sweep of four A* grades and five further students achieving three A* grades and above.
Overall, Ripon Grammar School saw its 144 students receive a total of 83 A*s.
Students have gained places at the University of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Imperial College London. One student has also won a scholarship at Fleetwood Nautical Campus.
Ashville College students on results day
Ashville College
Pupils at Harrogate’s Ashville College have all been awarded places at their preferred universities.
This year’s results are the best-ever, not including the mediated results of the covid-affected years. The rise in top A-level grades at Ashville includes 66% at A* to B.
The school's percentage of A*- B grades improved by 6% compared with last year’s figures and the percentage of A*- A grades increased by 7%. 40% of all grades achieved were A* to A.
Rhiannon Wilkinson, head of Ashville, said:
We are absolutely delighted with our sixth form results. Results days are significant occasions for pupils, parents and teachers alike. They are the culmination of a school career and a signpost to the next stage of a young person’s life.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said:
We have high aspirations for every child and young person in North Yorkshire and by achieving these grades and qualifications, local students can look forward to the future, whether that is a university place, further education, an apprenticeship, training or employment.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all our young people that if you didn’t get the results you were hoping for there are still lots of options available to you.
Any student who is not happy with their results should speak to their school, or college, which will be able to provide them with advice on how to explore future options for example through clearing.
Young people who may be uncertain about what to do next or are anxious about taking the next steps in their education, employment, or training are encouraged to find out more from their school, college or careers adviser.
More advice can be found here.
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