A-Level results day 2023: Students from across the Rugby area receive their results

Students at Rugby College have been celebrating their A-level and BTEC.

The College is part of WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group), along side Royal Leamington Spa College, Moreton Morrell, Warwick Trident, Pershore and Evesham colleges.

It said A-Level students across Rugby College saw success in English Literature and Business – with a 100 per cent pass achieved in the subjects.

The pass rate for psychology, sociology and criminology was also more than 90 per cent

A third of all BTEC students across the colleges also achieved the top-grade, triple Distinction, with more than half the students gaining the top grades in animal management and equine.

More than one-third of students also gained triple Distinction of above in agriculture and construction.

The college group has also celebrated a 100 per cent completion rate for Level 3 City and Guilds Technical qualifications, with qualifications including plumbing, beauty therapy and floristry.

Wiktoria Pawlus, aged 18 from Rugby, achieved an A in a Diploma in Criminology, B in A Level Psychology and B in A Level Sociology.

Wiktoria said: “I really enjoyed studying at Rugby College – it’s been a great experience and the teachers have all been fantastic.

“I’ve always had an interest in the subjects I chose, and I’m now looking forward to studying Psychology with Criminology at Birmingham University.

“I’ve not got a specific career goal in mind but eventually hope to be involved in rehabilitation in the criminal justice system.”

Rugby College student Chelsea Cole has achieved top BTEC grades has landed a gap-year job and an unconditional university offer.

Chelsea, aged 18 from near Southam, has achieved triple Distinction star in Health and Social Care.

She said: “I’m very happy with my grades. I’ve worked really hard to achieve them, but I don’t think I could have done it without the support of my teachers who have been fantastic.

“I always knew I wanted to go into a role supporting others, so health and social care seemed like a good choice for me and I really enjoyed the course.

“I completed a work placement as a carer during my course and thanks to this I’ve now been offered a job as a support worker in a residential area where I’ll be working with adults with complex needs.

“I’ll be doing this for a year to build up my industry experience before going to study Forensic Psychology at the University of Northampton next year.”

Peter Murshed, who lives in Rugby, has achieved Distinction star, Distinction, Distinction in Engineering.

He said: “I’m very pleased with my results – I didn’t think I’d do so well so I’m really happy.

“It was actually a careers advisor who originally suggested I study engineering because I enjoy maths and I’ve definitely enjoyed the course.

“I particularly enjoyed the practical, hands-on work we did in the workshop as it gave me a taste of what it would be like working in that industry.

“I’m now looking forward to studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Coventry University.”

James Stacey, Head of A-Levels at WCG, added: “We would like to congratulate all of our students on their A-Level results this year - they are the results of two years of hard work and dedication.

“These A-Level qualifications will provide a springboard for the next stage in their development, whether that is Higher Education, apprenticeships or employment.”

Simon Philpott, WCG Assistant Principal, added: “This is yet another year of strong BTEC and City and Guilds Technical results across our college group, with qualifications being secured across all of our colleges in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

“Skilled individuals are at the heart of the UK government’s strategy and our courses are designed to meet the skills needs of the communities in which our colleges are based.

“Students will now move on to the next stage in journey – which could be University or employment – and the results received today will give them a great platform to launch their future careers.”

Rugby High School students are celebrating their results, with the school saying it is one of the best years of grades the school has ever achieved.

Over 45 per cent of grades awarded to students this year were an A* to A Grade.

Five students also gained at least 3 A*s or above, several students gaining a place at Cambridge University, and 78 per cent of all grades were awarded A* to B.

In a year where there were concerns that results would “fall” to pre-pandemic levels, Rugby High School students and staff have outperformed pre-pandemic grading by seven per cent.

Head teacher Mark Grady said: “We are elated with these results.

"It proves that RHS is absolutely the place where you can rely on getting the very best grades and support to ensure you can make successful next steps in life.

"This is a testament to the incredible work of our staff, and of course, the dedication and commitment of our students and families, working in partnership with us to gain the very best outcomes.

"We could not be happier. I’m sure our students have read the doom-laden news stories about fewer top grades and fewer university places, and that is horrible to read when waiting for your results.

"But I am so pleased to say that the 2023 cohort have been prepared brilliantly, and have achieved incredibly highly.

"We are so proud of their efforts, and wish them every success in their next steps. The vast majority of our students have gained their first choice of a university place.”

Sixth Formers at Princethorpe College are also celebrating a strong A-level results.

112 students sat A-level and BTEC examinations and completed the Extended Project Qualification this summer. 70 per cent of all grades were A*to B, with more than a third being A* to A.

17 students achieved three or more A* or A grades

Grove du Toit, Headmaster, said, “This was the first set of public examinations these students have taken, after their GCSEs were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Our young people have coped with disruption to their learning and faced uncertainty and pressure throughout their critical examination years.

"We are delighted with the results, that reflect the hard work and perseverance of this year group. It has been an extremely demanding time for them all, but happily the overwhelming majority have been accepted onto the various next pathways of their choice.

"These include University, Apprenticeships, and Gap Year programmes.

“Our Upper Sixth remained resilient throughout their time in the Sixth Form and I would like to thank our dedicated staff who worked with immense professionalism in supporting our students in their courses, giving them an excellent preparation for their next steps.

"We are incredibly proud of our Upper Sixth’s academic achievements, but these students are so much more than just their grades and they all have many other fine qualities: kindness, generosity, respect and a strong moral compass, which will be tremendously important for them as they move on to the next phase of their lives.

"We congratulate them on their well-deserved success and wish them all the very best for the future.”

Students at Ashlawn School in Rugby have been celebrating their A-Level results, with many now preparing to take up their places at universities and higher-level apprenticeships.

Paul Brockwell, Principal at Ashlawn School, said: “My congratulations go to all of the students receiving their exam results today.

"It has been fantastic to see so many talented, hard-working, young people celebrating their achievements and looking forward to the exciting future that awaits them.

“It is important, however, that we don’t forget that this is actually the first formal set of externally assessed exams that the vast majority of these students have completed, so their achievements are all the more amazing.”

Amongst those celebrating were twin brothers, David and Rhys West, who both chose to study the same subjects at A-Level – Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Engineering. After securing an impressive four A*s, two Distinction*s and two As between them, they are both heading to university in September, which will be the first time that the brothers have spent time apart.

David said: “I’m very happy with my results, particularly as some of the exam papers were quite challenging. I’m looking forward to starting my Medical Engineering Degree at the University of Southampton and am keen to pursue a career in the biotech industry.”

Rhys West added: “I achieved what I expected and am really pleased, I’m looking forward to joining the University of Warwick soon to study Maths.”

Ashlawn’s Head Girl, Georgia Black, achieved A* in Psychology, A* in PE and A in Biology, in order to confirm her place at Loughborough University to read Sports Science.

She said: “I’ve only been at Ashlawn for Sixth Form, but I feel like I’ve really improved since my GCSEs. The teachers are brilliant, my PE teacher, in particular, has been very supportive. I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved.”

In a few weeks’ time Hannah Bowers will join the University of Nottingham to begin a four-year course in Chemical Engineering with Environmental Engineering, after achieving A*, A, A in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, respectively.

She said: “I’ve had some sleepless nights this week, so it’s a relief to finally open my results. I chose some of the hardest subjects, but I felt really supported and prepared for the exams.

“I’ve really enjoyed studying in Sixth Form, the academic challenge and the opportunity to develop in myself. In particular, becoming a prefect then Deputy Head Girl, it was really confidence building and nice to help others too.”

Brieze Clarke has accepted a place to study Medicine at the University of Lincoln after securing an A* in Psychology, an A in Biology and a B in Chemistry.

She said: “I’m so pleased I’ve got my place at university. Revision was full on, but I’m glad it has all paid off. My mum’s here with me today and she’s so proud.”

Sam Larcombe was particularly pleased with his results, achieving an impressive three As in Sociology, Economics and Politics, after taking some time away from school in 2022 to focus on his mental health before returning for an additional year to complete his A-Levels.

He said: “I wasn’t sure I’d get the grades I wanted, but I’m really pleased. It was a bit daunting to return for another year, but I’m glad I did and felt so supported.

“I’m going to go and call my family now, I know they will be really happy.”

Year 13 students at Rugby Free Secondary School are celebrating the Sixth Form’s first ever set of A Level results.

Despite three national lockdowns, remote teaching and widespread national teacher strikes over the course of their educational journey, Year 13 students secured results that ensured both they and staff felt proud of their achievements, despite sitting public examinations for the first time in their lives.

Students performed particularly well in Social Sciences (Sociology and Psychology), English, Digital Media, Health and Social Care, Applied Science, and EPQ.

Against a backdrop of presumed harsher grade boundaries across the country, the school said there were numerous success stories across the Sixth Form, with some including:

~ Rowan: A* in English Language & Literature and A in Sociology

~ Kiera: A in Psychology and Distinction* in Health & Social Care

~ Eva: A* in Sociology and B in Religious Studies

~ Jessica: A in Art & Design and Distinction* in Digital Media

~ Charlotte: B in Geography and B in Mathematics

~ Karina: B in English Literature and B in Sociology

~ Natalie: B in English Literature and B in Sociology

~ Freddie: Distinction (x2) in Double Sport

~ Evie: A in English Language & Literature and Distinction* in Digital Media

Headteacher Iain Green praised all Year 13 students in the school’s inaugural cohort. He said: “This is a landmark day for us as a school, as we finally see our first set of A-Level results.

"We are extremely proud of all of our students, who have had to overcome numerous hurdles in their educational journey.

"So many of them have worked very hard over the past two years, and they deserve every bit of their success.

"We wish everyone the best of luck in the next stage of their lives, and this year group can move on knowing that they have made history at RFSS.

"I’d like to publicly thank our teaching staff for all of their hard work and expertise - they have gone above-and-beyond to give our students the best possible experience.”

Head of Sixth Form, Mitch Chadwick, also paid tribute to the school’s first Sixth Form leavers. She said: “This year group has worked tirelessly, and they have been a really tight-knit group throughout.

"In many ways, they have blazed a trail for our new Year 12 and Year 13 students, who have now been able to see what the rigours of A Level are.

"I’ve been really pleased to see how much these students have worked with our Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students over the past two years, and we are all incredibly proud of their achievements.

"Both the Sixth Form team and I wish them every success at University or in the wider-world.”

Southam College is also celebrating students A Level and Level 3 Vocational results.

With 76 per cent of students achieving A*to C grades or equivalent and over a fifth of all A Level grades being A or A* and the average grade for vocational qualifications being a Distinction.

The college said that while there are countless individual performances to celebrate, it particularly wanted to congratulate Frankie Ward (three A* Grades) and Bailey Parry (three D* Grades).

Josh Marchant, Poppy Hilton, Connor Bradley and Ethan Beard all achieved two A* and one A Grade whilst Charlie Medcalf, Lily Robinson and Martha Stanton are recognised for their results but also making progress in their Key Stage 5 studies.

Headteacher, Miss Mason, said: “I would like to congratulate all of our Year 13 students on the effort and hard work they have put into these qualifications, this was the first opportunity they have had to take a full set of examinations, after an adjusted approach in Year 11.

"Students rose to the challenge with energy and enthusiasm which has led to them going on to positive destination for September.

"This wouldn’t be possible without the support of parents and carers or our dedicated staff team, thanks go to everyone who has supported these students on their way to the next stage in their education and future.”