Students across south Warwickshire collect their A level results

STUDENTS across Stratford and district celebrated their A level results today with schools once again producing an outstanding set of grades in a variety of subjects.

It was another impressive year for sixth formers at King Edward VI School, Stratford, with 89.6 per cent of papers graded A*-B, the second highest in the school’s history.

In total, 87 students obtained three A grades or better, including five students who obtained four A* grades: David Ansell, Jonathan Flaxman, Robbie Gemmill, Eddie Mitchell and Ellie Morris.

Bennet Carr, headmaster, said “It is immensely rewarding to see this year group achieve such exceptional outcomes. They have been wonderfully committed to all aspects of school life and have now capped their many successes in, for example the fields of sport, music and drama, with examination results of which they can be extremely proud.”

Stratford Girls’ Grammar School has recorded its best set of results since 2015. A levels ca be stressful but student Zoe Greenwood - who is off to university to study digital forensics and cyber security - said she and her friends were going to celebrate their A levels with a “glass of champagne.”

Head teacher, Jacqueline Cornell, told the Herald: “We’ve had a really good set of results. Our motto is shaping futures and these students have done that and many are off to their first choice destinations. It was a complete team effort between staff, students and families. Ofsted noted the family feel and sense of pastoral care that underpins everything we do.”

Jack Southam from Stratford got a grade A in architecture following today’s A level results at Stratford School. Jack is now busy applying for apprenticeships in Stratford and surrounding area. Meanwhile, his fellow student colleague, Flavious Catana, achieved A in sociology, A in psychology and C in biology and is going to Warwick University. “My inspiration was my sociology teacher, Mr James Hill. When I graduate I want to be a teacher just like him,” Flavious said.

Stratford School headteacher Neil Wallace said: “These are demanding qualifications requiring extensive knowledge, skill and application. Everybody involved should be proud of what they have achieved. As a school, we are delighted with the results achieved by our students. Our staff have worked tirelessly to ensure so many of our students are able to progress onto further education and study.”

Records were broken at Alcester Grammar School (AGS).

Rachel Thorpe, principal, said: “AGS is unique in the breadth of the curriculum on offer to sixth-form students. This year, students achieved grades in 25 different subjects and the EPQ qualification. We remain the only provider in the region to offer all students the unique flexibility to maximise their success by starting a free choice of 4 A levels in year 12.”

Breaking previous records, 41 percent of A-level entries were graded A* or A, 73% were graded A*—B, and 93 per cent were graded A*-C.

Forty per cent of the cohort achieved A,A,B or higher.

Plus numerous other personal successes across the A-level ability range, and virtually all students are set for a destination of their choice.

Kineton High School students also excelled.

Headteacher Helen Bridge said: “Congratulations and well done to all our Year 13 students on their brilliant results. This year, we are delighted to share a significant improvement on our progress measures across our A-Level and Applied courses. Nearly half of all grades were A*-B with an overall pass rate of 98 per cent. I am over the moon that all students have been able to access their next destination of choice. I’d like to pass on thanks to all the staff who taught the cohort and extend our gratitude to parents for their continued support.”

At at St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Alcester it was another year of impressive results. Principal Claire Paddock said: “We are so proud of all our students - not only in what they have achieved academically but also how they have developed as well-rounded and caring individuals that embody the ethos of our school.”

Among an overall pass rate of 99 per cent nearly a quarter of grades at A level were achieved at A*– B with 40 per cent of vocational subjects grading at distinction or above.

St Benedict’s student, Brad Thomas, was outstanding on A level day and achieved grade A in History, grade A in biology and grade C in chemistry (actually as well as completing a Level 2 BTEC and Level 3 City & Guilds in his own time in addition to hundreds of hours of volunteering in the local community). He's now off to study to be a therapeutic radiographer at The University of Hertfordshire in September so a very worthy career choice.

Students worked with an excellent team of sixth form teachers and engaged with an excellent pastoral team. Students will now embark on the next stage of learning, having gained the grades for their chosen university, apprenticeships, or employment.

Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving grades to help them progress on to university, an apprenticeship or employment.

According to national figures, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades this year is up on 2023 and remains above pre-pandemic levels.

More than a quarter (27.8 per cent) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.6 percentage points on last year when 27.2 per cent achieved the top grades.

However, the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.2 per cent this year, which is lower than last year (97.3 per cent) and the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (97.6 per cent).