COLLEGES and sixth forms across Stourbridge notched up another outstanding set of A-level results last Thursday (August 18).

King Edward VI College in Stourbridge trumpeted an A-level pass rate of 99.4 per cent - beating the national pass rate of 98.1 per cent and confirming the college’s status as one of the very best A level providers in the country.

Principal Remley Mann was "delighted"with the results which showed 62.7 per cent of A-level entrants at the college gained one of the top A*, A or B grades, almost ten percentage points clear of the national A* - B rate of 52.8 per cent.

There were 100 per cent pass rates in 31 subjects and A*/A/B pass rates of 60 per cent or more in 26 subjects - plus a host of outstanding individual performances from students.

Teenagers who gained three or more A* grades included: David Birnie, Elliott Cox, Cameron Di Leo , Kirsty Gledhill, Juliet Hall, Matthew Jones, Jay Lees, Joseph Nicholson, Kieran Parrott-Goldthorp, Ben Phillips, Eleanor Ravenscroft, Guvan Riar, Roseanna Rought, Alexander Russell, Bridget Ryan, April-Lina Waine.

The college also recorded a 94.2 per cent pass rate for its AS-level results - four percentage points above the national average; and a 57.3 per cent pass rate for A/B grades at AS-level - 15 points above the national average.

Students at Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge, also achieved impressive A-level results.

The Heath Lane school reported a 100 per cent pass rate across 23 subjects and that the majority students secured their first choice of university.

Headmaster Paul Kilbride said: "Our students are to be congratulated on these impressive results."

Among the school's star students were: Budd Crooks from Worcester, who gained straight A*s, and Nat Slater from Kingswinford, who scored one A* and two A grades. Both will continue their education at the University of Bath, studying natural sciences.

Stourbridge teenagers Oliver Mann, who achieved straight A grades, and Cameron Harrison, who achieved A*, A, B are to study in London, at the LSE and UCL.

Arthur Heung, from Penn, who obtained top grades in maths and the sciences, will also move to London in the autumn to study material science at Imperial College.

Meanwhile - Stourbridge's Rob Hipwood (who achieved A, A, B, B) and Izzy Detheridge (who achieved A, A, B, B) will both be accepting places at the University of Birmingham; Rob to read history and Izzy English.

Louise Potter from Kingswinford achieved A*, A, A and will take a gap year before applying to read medicine at university.

Hagley Catholic High School celebrated a record year for A-level pass-rates with 99.4 per cent of pupils receiving A* to E grades.

Almost half of grades were at B or higher with 20 per cent of all A-level qualifications attained as the highest A* and A grades, and more than 72 per cent of pupils were awarded A*to C grades.

The results mean more than 99 per cent of the school’s students can progress onto higher education.

Headteacher, Ted Hammond, said: “I am delighted the high standards of previous years have been maintained and that almost all of our students have secured the grades needed to continue their journey along the life-long path of learning.”

Kinver High School and Sixth Form celebrated record levels of pupils achieving A* to C grades.

The school saw 68 per cent of its pupils attain top marks.

Headteacher Chris Rogers said: “We are delighted with our A-level results this year. 68 per cent of grades were A* to C with a significant increase in points per student and points per entry which are the best ever for the school.

“Our students deserve their success which is down to hard work and commitment."

Haybridge High School and Sixth Form, Hagley, saw 99.4 per cent of students achieve overall grades of A* to E.

While 52 per cent of pupils were awarded A* to B in their chosen subjects.

Headteacher Caroline Hoddinott called the results “a truly fantastic achievement”.

She said: “Our students are now going out into the world with an outstanding foundation to build their futures on."

Celebrating outstanding individual success at Haybridge were: Sarah Berry, who gained three A*s and will be going to read mathematics at Birmingham, Charles Bruce, who is going to York to read PPE and Abigail Richards, heading to Warwick to study mathematics having achieved three A*s - along with Alexa Wittkop, who achieved three A*s and an A.

A number of students will also embark on some of the most competitive courses in the country, with Hannah Danks and James Sutton both accepted to Cambridge, and Ellie Chatwin and Chinvati Bhardwaj heading to Oxford.

Stourbridge College celebrated a 96 per cent pass rate overall and 25 per cent of students achieving an A*to B grade.

There was also 100 per cent pass rate for 16 of the A-level courses offered by the college, which is part of BMet.

Andrew Cleaves, principal and chief executive at BMet, said: “I am very encouraged with the results our A-level students have achieved this year.
"It is particularly pleasing to see such a significant increase in the number of students achieving an A*- B grade. 

"We have continued to improve on last year and this is due to the hard work of our students and the efforts and dedication of our staff."
Celebrating at Stourbridge College was Annie Cowdrell who is now heading to the University of Nottingham to study criminology and sociology.

"There was a huge feeling of euphoria when I saw my grades, particularly for my A* in sociology,” said 18-year-old Annie who also achieved a B in English literature and C in psychology.

Meanwhile - Katie Harper, aged 18, of Halesowen, is heading to the University of Manchester after gaining B grades in sociology, communications and culture and C in psychology.