6 Star, T h u r s d a y, August 23, 2018 HSH-EO1-S2

ST MARK’S: High achievers

A-level resultsgive teenagerschance to lookto the futureBy Star reportersnewsdesk@hertsessexnews.co.uk

STUDENTS across Harlow celeb-rated and looked to the futureafter getting their A level gradeson Thursday, August 16.

This is only the second yearthat most A-levels have beenassessed solely on exams taken atthe end of pupils’ second years,leading to the proportion of stu-dents gaining C grades and abovefalling across the country.

But that didn’t stop students atHarlow College gaining a 99 percent pass rate, with particularlystrong results in chemistry, Eng-lish language, history, maths andsociolog y.

The college also celebratedimpressive results in Level 2BTEC courses, where exams wereintroduced for the first time,including gaining a 100 per centpass rate in applied science.

I m p r e s s iveAs well as this results for the

new technical certificates wereequally impressive, with beautystudents achieving distinctions,the highest possible grade, whilethe hospitality course saw theonly distinction grade and themajority of merit grades acrossthe country.

Students secured places atsome of the country’s top uni-versities including at UniversityCollege London, Bristol, Birming-ham, King’s College London, Not-tingham, York and Manchester.

Deputy principal Louise Turn-er said: “Once again our studentshave achieved tremendous res-ults, reflecting the hard work ofthe students and staff.

“We are particularly delightedas we embark on the opening ofour new college at Stansted Air-port this September.

“Alongside excellent A Levelresults and progress directly touniversity many of our studentsare using apprenticeships as theroute to combine their studieswith employment.

“Our strong science technologyand mathematics (STEM) provi-sion enables many students toprogress into employment andhigher study in health, engineer-ing and science areas, supportingthe growth of health and scienceemployment opportunities in thearea and the region.”

Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow,said: “'I am so proud of HarlowCollege, one of the best colleges inEngland.

“Yet again students have had

outstanding A-level results with a99 per cent pass rate and greatresults in key subjects in mathsand English.

“Harlow is becoming the skillscapital of the East of England andensuring that students can climbthe education ladder of opportun-ity to achieve the very best.

“This is all to do with thehard work, commitment andsheer non-stop effort of thegovernors, principal, staff,students and parents. Aproud day for Harlow andcongratulations to all.”

This is the secondyear that A-levelstudents at thecollege have beenable to takeBTEC subjectsalongside tradi-tional A-levels.

Head of sixth form TracyGreenall said: “We have had avery successful year creatingeven greater personal pro-grammes for our learners, whichhas seen many combining A-levelsubjects with BTECs, such ashealth and social care and appliedscience, enhancing the overallexperience and providing a widerrange of subjects to be studied.

“Following on from this suc-cess, we are exploring the

possibilities of introducingnew A-level subjects,including A-level philo-sophy, to further meet the

needs and interests oflear ners.”

M e a n wh i l estudents andstaff at StM a rk ’s WestEssex CatholicSchool celeb-rated excellent

results, with many studentsbecoming the first in their familyto go to university.

Pupils achieved a pass rate of 95per cent, with 60 per cent achiev-ing A* to C grades and 99 per centof students getting into a uni-versity or getting onto a course oftheir choice.

Headteacher Elain Heaphysaid: “We are delighted for thestudents, they should be proud oftheir achievements and we wishthem all the best for their futuree n d e avo u r s.

“Certainly, I would like to puton record my thanks to students,staff and parents for what was anexemplary team effort.

“Our sixth form draws from allthe other schools in Harlow andwe would congratulate theseschools for their work in success-fully getting these studentsthrough GCSE studies andgiving them the grounding for A-

level study.“We are sure that they will

share in this success. We lookforward to welcoming the newYear 12 cohort in September.”

Staff at Sir Charles Kao UTChope their improving results are asign of things to come, with abrand new school due to open inSe ptember.

The college became part of theBurnt Mills Academy Trust earli-er this year and saw a new head ofschool and leadership teambrought in, among a range ofother changes.

From September, the schoolwill relaunch as BMAT STEMAcademy, focusing on preparingyoung people – from the age of 14in Year 10 – for careers in theindustries showing a skills short-age in Harlow.

StudyingAlmost half of students secured

A to C grades in the A-level exams,while 60 per cent of studentsstudying BTECs in engineeringand computing achieved distinc-tions and above.

Last year just 18 per cent of SirCharles Kao students secured A toC grades in their A-levels.

Having worked with Year 13 forjust a few months, head of schoolLisa Tooley was pleased with theresults students picked up andsaw it as a positive sample of whatis to come.

She said: “We have worked hardwith Year 13 in the very short timewe have had with them and arepleased with the results they arecollecting today which will enablethem to go on to bright futures.

“With our brand new schoollaunching in September, with anew cohort of Year 10 students, weare even more excited to see whatwonderful things we can achieveto gether.”

Many students now leaving theschool secured places on appren-ticeships, as well as gaining offersof places at universities.

■ Jasmine Warwick A/A/Areading InternationalManagement at WarwickUniversity■ Halle Andrews-Clark A/A/Areading Biochemistry atSouthampton University■ Taylah Andrews-Clark A/A/Areading Biochemistry atSouthampton University■ Lauren Bone A/A/A re a d i n gMedicine at York MedicalSchool University■ Rose Joseph A/B/B re a d i n gEconomics and Maths at SurreyUniversity■ Fleur Cracknell A/A/Breading Criminology, Policingand Forensics at West

London University■ Thomas Festa A/A/Breading Economics atLoughborough University■ Ruchi Masih A/A/B re a d i n gBiological Sciences at LeicesterUniversity■ Sarah Van Der LithA/B/B Gap year, working inMalawi■ Aimee Cheung B/B/Breading Psychology withEducation Studies at WarwickUniversity■ Bithiah McSpencer B/B/Breading Economics at SheffieldUniversity■ Abigail Willis B/B/B re a d i n gLaw at Bristol University

Piers Sullivan and Luke Cotton of SirCharles Kao UTC

RobertHalfon

M A K I N G T H E G R A D E : Harlow College students gained a 99 per cent pass rate,

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■ Bethany Hart, 18Biology A*, Maths A,Psychology AGoing to University CollegeLondon to study psychology“I feel over the moon! I’mactually in the uni that I want togo to. I’m fascinated bypsychology and the mind – I’mhoping to unlock some of themysteries during my uni course.I’d like to become a psychiatristor a clinical psychologist when Igraduate.”■ Heather Marshall, 20Geography A, Government andPolitics A, History A*Offered a place oninternational politics course atKing’s College London“I’ve just accepted a really goodjob with a local firm on theirmanagement pathwayprogramme but with theseresults I can go to King’sCollege, one of the bestuniversities in the world, so I’vegot a big decision to make.Politics is a subject I’mpassionate about.”■ Peter Bird, 18Mathematics A*, FurtherMathematics BGoing to Loughborough tostudy Accounting &Economics“I’m just waiting for my Businessgrade but, hopefully, I should stillbe going to my first choice uni,which is Loughborough. “Myexperience of the Sixth Form atHarlow College has beenbrilliant! The support from theteachers has been outstanding.”

■ Harriet Smith, 19English Language A*,Government and Politics B, aswell as studying law as adistance learning courseGoing to The University of EastAnglia to study Law

“My aim is to become a barristereventually, although I’m going tokeep my options open for othercareers in the Law. Theuniversity have really good linksand I’m really excited.”■ Eddy Devine, 18

Physics B, Maths B, BusinessCGoing to Bristol University tostudy robotics“Robotics is a mix of physicaland computer engineering andcomputer science. My A Levelphysics grade will really help mein my uni course.

“During my placement year I’lllook for a company to work for inthe field of robotics.”■ Jade Driscoll, 18History A, Chemistry B, MathsBGoing to EvershedsSutherland, a law firm inCambridge, to study for asolicitor apprenticeship“I had an offer of a place at KentUniversity to study law, butdecided to go for anapprenticeship as it will bettersuit my lifestyle as I can stay athome and learn on the job.

“I know that I’ll have equallygood experience to be asolicitor, as I would have gainedif I’d gone to university.”■ Melissa Evans, 18English Literature A*,Psychology A, Biology BGoing to The University of EastLondon to study psychology“I’m still in shock after gettingmy results. Because my gradeswere higher than I expected Ihave the option of looking at acouple of other universities. I’mlooking to specialise in researchpsychology – I like the idea ofdiscovering ways of actuallymaking a difference to people’slives.”

HARLOW COLLEGE: How the most successful students reacted

Harlow College students look to the future on results day

A-level students atSt Mark’s celebrategetting their results

with top results in chemistry, English language, history, maths and sociology