A Sunderland sixth form college is celebrating the outstanding achievements of its A-level students today. Students from St. Aidan’s and St. Anthony’s Catholic Sixth Form College, part of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, eagerly received their A-level results this morning, transforming nerves into relief and joy.
Among the top achievers was Callum Kendray, who secured an impressive four A* grades in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Spanish. He is now set to pursue Medicine at Oxford University. Reflecting on his success, Callum said, “I was hoping for As, but this is so much more. I’ve been dreaming about this for years.”
Emma Coates also celebrated her success, having achieved three A* grades and an A. She is thrilled to be going to Oxford University to study Theology and Religion. “I’m so excited,” she shared. “My teachers really inspired me.”
Another high-achiever, Eve Fawcett, earned four A*s in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Spanish and will be studying Medicine at Edinburgh University. She remarked, “I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do: specialise in Medicine.”
James Spence celebrated his outstanding results of two A*s and an A, which earned him a place at Manchester University to study Chemical Engineering. He admitted, “Last week, I was nervous about the results, but now I am relieved and excited about the future.”
Jack Brooks, who achieved an A* and two As in English Language, Government and Politics, and History, expressed his happiness, saying, “I am delighted to be going on to study Law at the University of Leeds.”
Gabrielle Collins, who received two A*s and an A, will be studying English Literature and French at the University of Edinburgh. She described her feelings as a mix of shock, excitement, and delight.
Claudia Howard also had reason to celebrate, with her results of one A*, two As, and a B securing her a place at King’s College, London to study Social Sciences. She expressed her pride and excitement about the future.
Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Ward, expressed her pride in the students’ achievements, stating, “We are incredibly proud of our students this year. Their hard work and dedication, coupled with the support of our talented staff, have led to outstanding results. These achievements are a testament to the commitment to excellence in education at our school.”
She continued, “We are thrilled to announce that our students have achieved remarkable results, with 30 A* grades and 50 A grades. Additionally, 20% of our students secured AAB, reflecting the dedication of both students and staff. Beyond A-levels, our students excelled in applied general courses, with 30% earning Distinction*. It has been a day of celebration for our entire school community.”
Mrs Ward also emphasized the school’s ongoing commitment to supporting every student as they transition to the next stage of their journey. “With this year’s exceptional outcomes, we are confident that the vast majority of our students have secured places at their first-choice universities, apprenticeships, or workplaces. For those who may have missed out, we have a robust support network in place to guide them toward a successful future.
This year’s A-level students were in Year 9 when the pandemic first disrupted their education. They were also the first cohort to sit for GCSEs after they were reintroduced. While the regional attainment gap has widened slightly this year, we are proud to see our students continue to thrive despite the challenges and “wide gaps” in attainment across different English regions.”
St. Aidan & St. Anthony’s Sixth Form open evening for September 2025 entry is on Tuesday 17 September 2024.