Hundreds of students across the Harrogate district have collected their A-level results this week.
The teenagers, whose education was severely disrupted by covid as they prepared for their GCSEs, are now preparing for the first steps in their careers, via further education or work.
Nationally, the number of the top A* and A grades have dropped after rising in the pandemic. However, 79% of students in the UK still got into their first choice of university.
At Rossett School this year, 38% of grades were A* to B, and 21% A* or A, while there was a 100% pass rate in BTEC subjects. of which 78% were graded ‘merit’ or above.
Newly-appointed headteacher Tim Milburn said:
“We’re seeing similar results to those of 2019, which reflects the national picture and is remarkable given what these students have faced over the last three-and-a-half years.
“We are so proud of all our students today. They have shown resilience and versatility in navigating the challenges of the last few years, and their fantastic results are thoroughly deserved.”
Among the outstanding individual results was Kenneth Burt achieved two A*s and two As in physics AS level.
Beth Cannings will use her three As and an A in the extended project qualification to study medicine at Lancaster University..
And Jamie Tucker is set to read biochemistry at Birmingham University after achieving an A* and two As.
Amy Beardmore, Beth Cannings and Jamie Tucker collect their A level results from Rossett School
Harrogate Ladies’ College today celebrated an increase in its top grades compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The percentage of A* and A grades was 41%, an increase of more than 17% compared to 2019.
More than half of the A* grades were in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.
In five subjects, including further maths, students acheve a clean sweep of grades at A* to B.
Elsewhere, 75% of French grades were A*, 85* of geography grades were B or above, and in creative arts, 90% were A*-B.
Sylvia Brett, principal of Harrogate Ladies’ College, said:
“These are an exceptionally good set of results across a huge range of subjects and the class of 2023 should be so proud of everything they have achieved.
“They have shown a huge appetite for hard work and incredible resilience. It’s very rewarding to see them propelled into the next exciting stage of their lives.
“Today is about celebrating their personal achievements – however big or small. We have watched with pleasure as these incredible young women have fulfilled their potential in an inspiring and supportive environment.“
Among the high achievers was Sophie McHugh, who achieved an A* and three As, securing her place to study engineering at Durham University.
Eve Brasher’s A* and two As will see her go on to study law at the Newcastle University.
Exeter University is the chosen destination for Lucy Thomson, who also secured an A* and two As, and she will study international relations.
And Ukrainian twins who were separated from their family thanks to the war have gone on to achieve top grades, as reported earlier today by the Stray Ferret.
Ripon Grammar School, meanwhile, was celebrating after 82.5% of results for its 149 students were at A*-B.
That figure matches last year’s total, despite grades declining nationally, and there were a total of 98 A* grades across the year group.
Four students achieved four A* grades apiece, while Ben Statham was the top-performing pupil with five A*s.
Headmaster Jonathan Webb said:
“While the national figure for A*-A has fallen from 45% to 27%, RGS has maintained its high percentage of A*-A grades, which I think reflects the integrity of our procedures in previous years.”
At King James’s School in Knaresborough, 120 students collected their results, though the school has not published details of the grades achieved across the year group.
The school said 93% secured a place at university and the proportion getting their first choice was “in line with 2019”, with “only a handful” were waiting for places through the clearing process.
Harrogate Grammar School has not released details of its results, but said in a statement the current students “faced the pressure of taking formal exams for the very first time” after having GCSEs cancelled in 2021.
The school said 81% of students applied to university and 70% of those had achieved their first choice, with 91% getting a place somewhere.
St Aidan’s and St john Fisher Associated Sixth Form said around 90% of students had secured a place at their first or second choice university.
The sixth form has not published details of its results, but said in a statement they were “in line” with those achieved in 2019.
Read more:
Ripon A-Level student who battled tumour aims to become a doctor
A Ripon student diagnosed with an ovarian tumour during her A-Levels has achieved the grades she needed to go to university and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
Amy Goodwin, who studied at Ripon Grammar School, missed several weeks of school and underwent surgery. Today she was awarded an A*, two As and a B in maths, biology, chemistry and physics.
She said staff at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton had inspired her:
“I had such good doctors and nurses who looked after me well and put me at ease”.
Ms Goodwin had to wait nine weeks for confirmation her tumour was benign. Having made a good recovery, she is now looking forward to starting her course in medicine at the University of Sheffield in September.
She said her experience had given her new insight into her future career:
“It made me think about how doctors come across to patients and how they present information to them.
“I have always been interested in being a doctor, mainly because I want to be able to help people.”
Read more:
- Live: A-level results arrive in the Harrogate district
- Ripon police and fire station gets £1.2m upgrade
Meanwhile, fellow Ripon Grammar pupil Mena Scatchard will travel to the USA on a £250,000 sports scholarship after receiving an A* in geography and As in biology and chemistry.
Ms Scatchard is one of the fastest young middle-distance runners in the UK and will study liberal arts at the prestigious Ivy League university Princeton.
Middle distance runner Mena Scatchard, who is off to America.