STUDENTS in Richard Huish College (RHC), Taunton, have been celebrating a near-100 per cent overall pass rate in their A-Level examinations this year.
The overall rate was 99 per cent, with nearly 80 per cent of students gaining A*-C grades, and an impressive 54 per cent gaining high grades of A*-B.
The top A-Level performers did well across a wide range of courses, with 74 students achieving three or more A*/A grades, and two being awarded the highest marks of any other student nationally in their A-Level English language and photography qualifications.
Results for vocational extended diplomas were also exceptional, with nearly 70 per cent of students achieving high grades, with at least one distinction grade in their profile.
Twenty-one youngsters gained the ‘very top’ results of triple distinction*.
Students on a mix of A-Level and vocational courses also performed well, with 68 per cent receiving a distinction or distinction* in the vocational elements of their study programme.
College principal Emma Fielding said: “I could not be prouder of our students and the results they have achieved.
“Despite the unprecedented interruptions to their education and challenges they have faced over the last few years, they have achieved hugely impressive outcomes through their exceptional hard work and tremendous resilience.”
RHC was not only celebrating this year’s result, but also the wide and interesting range of destinations to which the students were progressing, from history of art at Cambridge to aerospace engineering in Bristol, to music in Leeds Conservatoire, and nursing at Plymouth.
Ms Fielding said: “We are also excited to be celebrating more students undertaking degree apprenticeships in really interesting and diverse fields, including engineering, geology, and law.
“These apprenticeships come with high salaries, funded degrees, and excellent career progression.”
Among the individual successes and variety of progression pathways celebrated this year were:
Arjun Ashok with four A*, confirming his place to read mathematics at Warwick
Charlie Brock, two A* and an A, securing a highly-competitive degree apprenticeship in London with Ashurst’s to train to become a solicitor, including an opportunity to work in its international offices
Emily Halliday’s three A* in psychology, sociology, and business, who goes on to Manchester University to study psychology
Josh MacCormick, whose straight As secured his place to study medicine at Aberdeen
Mito Birgin who arrived with Huish on its Level 2 pathway programme, progressed to an A-Level programme, and will now take up a place at Oxford Brooks University to study business management
Jaz Kerr Smith, who will take up an opportunity of a degree apprenticeship with the National Grid while studying for a fully-funded Master’s Degree
Ms Fielding said: “It is such a privilege to be part of such an amazing college and vibrant educational community.
“Our students’ achievements start with the efforts of our partner schools and are consolidated by the exceptional dedication, passion, and professionalism of our phenomenal Huish staff who, day in day out, give their all to enable our students to blossom and succeed.
“I would like to wish all our fabulous students every success and happiness as they start the next chapter of their lives.
“We know that they have bright and exciting futures ahead of them and want to thank them for everything that they have contributed to our college community during their time at Huish – we are really going to miss them.”