A-level pass rate success

Students across Telford & Wrekin today scored record-breaking A-level results as the national pass rate rose for the 25th year in a row.

For the first time the proportion of exams awarded A grades reached one in four - success reflected across the county.

Schools and colleges were delighted by high pass rates and councillors praised students' achievements. New College in Wellington notched up a 97 per cent pass rate.

The college, the borough's biggest A-Level centre, also achieved A-C grades in 67 per cent of exams.

Vice-principal Beverly Tyley said: "The staff and governors are absolutely delighted for all of those students who achieved such outstanding results again this year.

"Student life is more challenging these days and their success is a culmination of a lot of hard work and determination."

At Adams' Grammar School, Newport, the 122 pupils passed 99 per cent of their exams and achieved A-B grades in 74.5 per cent.

Headmaster Jim Richardson said: "The school has seen a consistent and substantial improvement in the quality of its A-Level results over the past 14 years. I am pleased to say this has been another record year."

Wrekin College scored a 100 per cent pass rate and 83 per cent of passes were at A-C grade. At Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College, Wellington, the pass rate was 98 per cent and the A-B rate was 37 per cent.

Among its students were Matthew Rhodes, of Aqueduct, who scored four A grades and will now study biochemistry at Exeter College, Oxford, and Michael Anderson, from Little Dawley, who earned three As and a B, and will read architecture at Churchill College, Cambridge.

Newport Girls High achieved an overall pass rate of 98 per cent, with 25 per cent of students achieving A-grades in three subjects or more.

Councillor Ian Fletcher, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for children & young people, said: "We would like to congratulate all the students today."

Picture: Celebrating their A-level results at New College, Telford, are Verity Brown, who got a distinction, one A and one B grade and Gill Clarksin, who got a distinction, B grade and two C grades.

See tonight's 12-page supplement on careers and education.

By Dave West