BARNSLEY Sixth Form College is celebrating after another ‘excellent’ set of A Level results with a 97 per cent overall pass rate.
They also achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in 22 subjects - including English language and literature, politics, law, fine art, history, Spanish and computer science.
Many students are now looking forward to starting higher education courses at universities throughout the country, including Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield with two students achieving the grades needed to take up a place at Oxford and Cambridge.
Andrei Vulcan is celebrating after securing one A* grade in biology and two As in chemistry and maths.
He said: “I’m really happy with my results.
“My plans are to study medicine at Hull York Medical School, this would not have been possible without the support of my tutors and the sixth form college.”
Mia Senior is celebrating after securing two A* grades in history and politics and a C in maths and is planning on studying history at the University of Leeds.
“She said: “Sixth form is very different to secondary school, with more freedom and opportunities to be independent.
“The tutors are friendly and helpful, plenty of support in place for students.”
David Akeroyd, chief executive and principal at Barnsley College, told the Chronicle that results day is a nervous one for both students and staff.
He said: “I’m not a massively emotional person, but earlier on I heard a parent shriek of joy.
“Even for a hard-nosed Yorkshireman like me, there’s a little bit of emotion.
“Thankfully the vast majority of our students have done brilliantly.
“That’s great to see.”
It’s the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that a cohort of students have gone through school sitting all their exams without any grade boundary support.
And David said that makes their achievements all the more impressive.
He added: “People say sometimes that ‘A Levels aren’t as hard as they were back in my day’.
“I think some of that was fuelled by the changes that were absolutely necessary around Covid time.
“The students that are here today did their GCSEs with no changes to grade boundaries and then have done two years of A Level study with no adjustments.
“These students have not had the easiest time but you look at them today and they’ve done brilliantly.”
He has praised them for their hard work.
“We are very proud of all our students receiving results today,” he said.
“Our students have worked consistently hard to meet the demands of the A Level qualifications and they have shown a sustained commitment to their studies over the last two years.
“The dedication and resilience demonstrated by our students and staff is evident in this year’s results.
“At Barnsley Sixth Form College, our staff and students have a culture of high aspirations, and I’m pleased to see so many students are progressing onto higher education or apprenticeships.
“I would like to wish them all the best of luck with their future careers.”
Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock said: “Congratulations to everyone who is receiving results this week.
“I know how much work goes into getting these qualifications. I hope that young people in Barnsley have received the results they wanted, and are really proud of the work that they have done.
“I am sending all my very best wishes for their next steps.”
