Doncaster celebrates A Level success

Hundreds of Doncaster teenagers are celebrating getting their grades today after picking up their A level results.
GENERIC PIC TAKEN FROM SCC ASH SYSTEM

Copyright:  Johnston Press 
Credit:  John Clifton 
Source:  Pontefract and Castleford Expres 
A Level results at St Wilfrids, North Featherstone
Laura Clarke (A*, A 2B), Leigh Wright (teacher)GENERIC PIC TAKEN FROM SCC ASH SYSTEM

Copyright:  Johnston Press 
Credit:  John Clifton 
Source:  Pontefract and Castleford Expres 
A Level results at St Wilfrids, North Featherstone
Laura Clarke (A*, A 2B), Leigh Wright (teacher)
GENERIC PIC TAKEN FROM SCC ASH SYSTEM Copyright: Johnston Press Credit: John Clifton Source: Pontefract and Castleford Expres A Level results at St Wilfrids, North Featherstone Laura Clarke (A*, A 2B), Leigh Wright (teacher)

Sir Thomas Wharton Community College

100% of students gained at least one A Level pass and 94% of Year 13 graduates attained passes in two or more A Levels.

Mr Binks, Headteacher said: “We had a very busy morning in college supporting students in securing their University destinations through the UCAS system. Several were successful in upgrading from their accepted unconditional offers to preferred alternative degrees as a result of better than expected results.

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“Others secured Higher Level Apprenticeships, including Ffion Hatch and Shaunna Turner-Flynn who will take up much sought after apprenticeships with the NHS. The NHS will fund Shaunna’s degree as she trains as a Pathology Laboratory Assistant. A number of students have chosen this career route as an alternative to University this year.

“We have many students heading off to local Universities in Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, York and Lincoln whilst a few are heading further afield.

“Alex Nelder with two A*s, two As and a B is looking forward to his Chemical Engineering degree course at Sheffield University.

“Emily Simpson with one A* and three As had an anxious wait with family, friends and a Headteacher with everything crossed, to finally hear at 3pm she had secured her place at Corpus Christi College, Oxford to “study Chemistry. Emily is a true ambassador for our College; we are really proud of her and haven’t stopped smiling since the call finally came through!

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“We are delighted for all our students and will miss them as they start the next stage of their lives. We hope they will all stay in touch and be part of our Alumni. Last year’s Head Boy, Danny Philips, having just achieved a ‘First’ in his first year Engineering degree at Sheffield came in to support his friends and said how much he had missed the supportive environment of Sir Thomas Wharton.”

Trinity Academy

Adam Osborne, head boy at Trinity Academy, in Thorne, is leading from the front after gaining an A* in psychology, Bs in biology and maths and a C in PE to read optometry at the University of Bradford.

Adam, 18, of Thorne, has been interested in optometry since getting a Saturday job at Boots Opticians.

He said: “I became really interested in it after discovering how different glasses can improve performance in sport and how many health problems can be picked up through the eyes. You can make a difference as an optometrist by being able to spot any wider health issues.”

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The overall pass rate at Trinity Academy was 97 per cent with 41 per cent of all grades being a B or better. Almost 20 per cent of all grades were A* or A.

The top performing subject areas at the academy were qualifications including economics, law, maths, psychology and art.

This year’s A level students were the first cohort to spend two full years in the academy’s new £1.2m sixth form centre which was designed to help boost the achievements and aspirations of young people from Thorne, Moorends and the surrounding area.

The top performing girl was Rhianne Davis, who gained two A*s in sociology and psychology, a B in law AS level, an A in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and a C in religious education.

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Dancer Eve Butler, of Thorne, who was appointed as the academy’s first student community liaison leader when she joined the sixth form, gained an A* in maths, a B in law, As in applied business and the EPQ and a C in further maths. Eve, who is hearing impaired, combined her studies with 15 hours of dance training each week.

Other top performers were Jennifer Standeven with A* in psychology, an A in sociology and a C in biology; talented artist Simeon Scott with an A* in art, an A in product design and a double merit in BTEC sport; and Janet Adelowokan with two As in chemistry and maths and a B in biology.

The two-storey Sixth Form Centre, which has capacity for 400 students, has an open plan ground floor comprising a study area with personal computers with internet access and social space. There are three

classrooms with state-of- the-art touch screen projectors on the first floor, a further large open plan area for silent study with individual PCs, space for group sessions and a UCAS library.

Hall Cross

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Doncaster’s biggest sixth form, Hall Cross, which has 500 six formers, reported its best ever results in the exams.

Vice Principal, Simon Swain, said: “It has been our best results ever.

“I think we have recruited some excellent teachers in the last few years.

“Pupils working hard has been fundamental, and the school has also created the ethos to make that happen.”

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The school was rated B- for its average points score, which represents a total of between 210 and 240.

Its academic A Levels average points score was rated 215, or C+, and its applied A Levels scored 240, a B rating.

A total of 20 per cent of students received at least one A* grade. Just over 75 per cent of the school’s grades were at A* to C, and 99.6 per cent of students achieved a pass grade.

Meanwhile pupils at McAuley Catholic High School were praised for their outstanding results.

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Mr Shenton, head of sixth form said: “Today is the culmination of two years of hard work and dedication by both the staff and students of the school. They all deserve the success that they are enjoying today that ensures progression to university or the world of employment.

“We are extremely pleased that the vast majority of our university applicants have secured places at their preferred choice of university including some of the world’s leading institutions such as Oxbridge, the Royal Northern College of Music and the US Ivy League.

“Students applying for competitive courses have also been successful in gaining places on courses such as Veterinerary Medicine, Law and Medicine. We are also delighted with our Year 12 students’ AS results which have improved despite the significant changes brought about by challenging curriculum reforms such as the decoupling of AS/A2 and new specifications.

“Congratulations to all of our students and we wish them every happiness and success for the future.”

Ridgewood School.

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The vast majority of students have secured their first choice of university place, and there were several stand-out performances. Straight A grades were achieved by Charlotte Green, Jacques Kenyon, Abi Pawlett, Alexander Shaw, Lewis Houghton and Megan Maloney, and they are now taking up places at a range of universities including Oxford, Leeds and Lancaster.

Many students also achieved the top grade possible, an A*, and have given themselves an excellent foundation for their Higher Education studies.

Headteacher Maggie Dunn said, “Congratulations to all the students who collected their results today, as across the board students did well and many exceeded their own expectations. We are thrilled to see these students realise their potential. One in eight students has achieved AAB in facilitating subjects, and more than one in every five grades is an A or A*, which is a testament to these students’ commitment, and how well they have worked with our supportive staff during their Post-16 studies. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 12 students in September, and to welcoming back our returning Year 13 students too.”

Balby Carr

Two students will head to the United States and others to universities across the UK after every candidate at the Academy of Sport at Balby Carr achieved their goal.

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A total of 36 gained the equivalent of three A grades or higher, with 23 of them achieving three A*s.

In Balby Carr’s sixth form, head teacher John Innes said initial analysis sees every indicator up on last year.

The numbers of students achieving the Department of Education’s minimum average points score standard increased by 30%, from 57% to 87%.

Students achieving three A-level passes has increased 12% to 48% while the increase in those gaining the equivalent of three A-levels in vocational courses has leapt from 62% to 80%.

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The vocational average grade was Distinction+, the highest it can be, said Mr Innes.

“The results provide further evidence of continuing improvement,” he said.

“Some students have achieved excellent results, a reflection of the hard work put in by them and the staff here.”

Among the early arrivals to pick up results today was Keely Warner, who achieved one A and two Bs.

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She was ‘thrilled’ with her results and is deciding whether to head to Manchester or Bradford to study optometry.

Meanwhile, Matthew Moore Taylor, who achieved one A and one B, is going to Hull to study law.

The Academy of Sport had excelled, Mr Innes said.

Jess Bain, Head of the Sports Academy, said: “The 36 students achieving three As or higher means all of the Academy of Sport students who applied for university have had confirmed places without the need to go through clearing.”

Laura Morrison will take up a golfing scholarship in the United States while the other student heading across the Atlantic is Shannon Durkin who will pursue her footballing career.

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Two other footballers, Lewis Bowen and Mitchell Levi-Lewis, have also been offered scholarships but are considering their options.

For further information, in the first instance please contact Nigel Lowther on 0792 0102303 or emailing nigel@nigellowther.co.uk

De Warenne Academy

Students and staff at De Warenne Academy are today celebrating their best ever Year 13 results.

More students than ever have been successful in achieving the highest grades and securing their places at their chosen universities.

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Notable successes include Adam Davies who achieved A* grades in Mathematics and Physics and has won a place to study Mathematics at the University of Sheffield and Josh Taylor who gained grade A in both Mathematics and Physics.

Alongside their A and AS Level successes, 100% of students studying for a BTEC qualification in Health and Social Care and 84% of students studying Applied Science achieved a Distinction Star, the highest grade possible.

Vice Principal, Andrew Hay said: “We are delighted with these excellent results, they are a testament to the hard work and commitment of our students and staff at De Warenne Academy, and in our partnership academies.”

Outwood Academy Adwick

Students at Outwood Academy Adwick in 2016 yet again have achieved outstanding results at post 16.

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Sir Michael Wilkins, Academy Principal and Chief Executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust said that “Our students have achieved excellent results, securing a 99% A*-E pass rate, with 58% of entries achieving an A Level A*-B grade or equivalent, and an incredible 44% of all entries achieved an A*-A. or equivalent. It is testament to the hard work of all students, their families, staff, the trust board and governors at Outwood Academy Adwick that we have yet again performed so well. I would like to particularly praise the work of principal Carolyn Blundell in helping these students gain these life changing results”.

To highlight just three students who have made exceptional progress:

Alex Sharp has attained two A* grades and one B grade. Alex has accepted a place to study Psychology at the University of Lincoln.

Liane Hemsley has attained two distinction* grades an A grade and one B grade, and will now study Psychology at The University of Durham.

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Ellie Rogers has attained two distinction* grades and one B grade and will now study Law at the University of Lincoln.

Every single student has achieved personal success and has a positive destination to progress on to, whether this be college, university, apprenticeship or employment.

Hill House

Students at Hill House School are celebrating this week as they receive a record set of A Level grades.

The pass rate at Don caster’s independent school was a record 99%. An impressive 47% of exams were graded at A* to B, with 74% graded at C or above.

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Westwoodside twins Conor and Kallum O’Hara managed 6 A levels between them, at the same time as pursuing successful football refereeing careers and, for Conor, singing in the national choir of the year Rainbow Connection. Kallum has won a place at Liverpool University to study Avionics, while Conor moves on to stage school in Guildford

Headmaster David Holland was delighted with the successes, saying ‘this reflects a lot of hard work and talent from both students and teachers.’ Both boys have been a great credit to the school, and will do really well in the future!’

Ash Hill Academy

Ash Hill students are celebrating a fantastic set of A-level results.

This year’s results saw a 100% pass rate in all A-level subjects, as well as a continued increase in the percentage of top grades achieved. All our Year 13 students have secured places in Higher Education, apprenticeship schemes or employment.

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Director of Post-16, Glenn Blackett, praised students, staff and parents for their efforts, saying “I am delighted for the students, their families and teachers, who deserve this success for all the hard work they have put in this year. I must pay tribute to the staff for their professionalism and commitment to achieving the highest standards of teaching. I am particularly pleased with the 28% increase in the AS-level pass rate over the last two years. The results are further evidence of the positive impact that working within the SPTA Post-16 Academy Doncaster Partnership has had on our Sixth Form.”

This year saw outstanding performances from many students including Sophie Lanaghan, who achieved Distinction* in all of her subjects, and Bradly Sinden, who achieved excellent grades in ICT, Mathematics and Physics and will now join Manchester Sports College to pursue his dream of representing Great Britain at the next Olympic Games.

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