Celebrations after A-Level results day brings top marks for students at Ashton Sixth Form College

The 2012-2013 academic year has again proved to be outstanding for Ashton Sixth Form College. We are delighted to maintain an excellent A-Level pass rate of 99% – above the sixth form national average. High grades (A*, A and B) have increased by 4% and a huge 72% of A-Levels taken by Ashton Sixth Form Students were graded A*-C.

29 of our A level subjects have achieved 100% pass rate. Particularly pleasing grades were achieved in Art and Design, Media Studies and Dance where the high grade rate was 67%, 76% and 100% respectively. We are also delighted to see another huge increase in our Maths and Science results, with all Maths and Science subjects achieving results above the high sixth form national averages.

We have achieved outstanding vocational success, as always, with the vast majority of vocational students achieving the higher grades of Distinctions and Merits. Examples of this outstanding vocational success include our Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business Management where 93% students achieved Distinction or Merit grades, Performing Arts and Health and Social Care where 82% achieved Merits and Distinction grades and Children’s Care, Learning and Development where 71% of students achieved the highest grades.

The Multi Professional NHS Cadet course which prepares students for a range of work within the NHS has been particularly successful, with all students who followed the programme achieving the top grades.

College Principal Dr Janet Nevin was on hand to congratulate students who had come into college to collect their results “It has been great to see so many happy faces today; I would just like to congratulate all of our students and their respective college departments. Their combined efforts and hard work have really paid off and I’m really pleased that this has led to a 4% increase in high grades (A*A and B grades). Best of luck to all students who will be progressing to university, apprenticeships, training and employment. I do hope you will all stay in touch and let us know how you are getting on in the coming months and years.”

Amongst the students celebrating significant achievements were Sam Thomas and Ben Fox who both received some of the highest results in the College. Both students, who formerly attended Longdendale Community Language College, have been successful in gaining places into competitive universities.  Sam achieved an astounding 2 A* and 3 A grades to gain a place at St John’s College, Oxford to read French with Italian. Ben, who excelled in Mathematics at Ashton Sixth Form College, gained an A* grade in Mathematics and Further Mathematics will be heading to Durham University to continue his studies in Mathematics and Physics.

Many others from Ashton Sixth Form College will be joining Sam and Ben in gaining places at top, prestigious universities this year. This includes Alice Ash (formerly Droylsden Academy) who achieved 5 straight A grades to secure her place to study Social and Political Sciences at the University of York. Equally impressive was Aaron Breeze (formerly Hyde Technology School) who not only achieved an A* grade in Music and secured a place at the Royal Northern Music College but also secured a £3000 a year bursary.

Today wasn’t just a big day for A-level students as our AS students were also collecting results from the first year of their courses.  First year student Joe Gregory has already had a successful year. After taking part in the Cambridge University Chemistry Challenge, Joe achieved a “Rontgenium” award – placing him in the top 0.8% of all students who took the paper (6500 across the country). To add to this amazing achievement, Joe today collected A grades in AS-Level Chemistry, Biology, German and Mathematics.

AS-Level student Nicole Searle scored a perfect 300/300 in her AS Mathematics exam. Overall Nicole did really well achieving 5 A grades and 1 B grade (just one mark away from an A).

This was also the day when students on Level 3 Extended Diploma programmes were handed their official final grades. Last year, Ashton Sixth Form was awarded the 2012 Award for the Outstanding BTEC College of the Year and today over 30 of our BTEC Extended Diploma students achieved triple Distinction*(420 UCAS points) equivalent to 3x A* grades.

Amongst the majority of students achieving Distinctions and Distinction* success were Ami-Beth Dunwoody who completed a Health and Social Care Level 3 Extended Diploma and will be studying Paediatric Nursing at the University of Salford and Charlie Gilbertson who is also heading to the University of Salford to study Computer Science after studying a Level 3 Extended Diploma in ICT.

Although the vast majority of ASFC leavers will be progressing onto Higher Education, others are successful in securing high quality apprenticeships. Two such students are Chloe Ferguson (formerly Fairfield High School for Girls) and Freya Harvey (formerly St Damians RC Science College). After achieving an impressive Distinction* Distinction* Distinction*in her Business Management Level 3 Extended Diploma, Chloe Ferguson successfully gained a Project Management apprenticeship with Stockport Council. Freya has been working hard to gain a place this year and has successfully gained an apprenticeship in Accounting with a local firm.

Please see our Facebook page for images from the day.