Whitburn Students Celebrate Fantastic A-level Results Posted on: 17 Aug 2017

The long wait is finally over for Whitburn Sixth Form students as they have picked up the school’s first ever A-level results.  The students achieved a fantastic set of results with some stunning individual success. James Graham gained an amazing four A* grades in Further Maths, Geography, Maths, and Physics and has accepted a place at the University of Durham to study Maths.

Chloe Manuel becomes Whitburn Sixth Form’s first ever Oxbridge entrant as her A* and two A grades have won her a place to study English Language and Literature at New College, University of Oxford. Adam Wallace also gained an A* and two A grades and has gained a place to study Medicine at the University of Newcastle. Freya Lovely’s four A grades mean that she has a place to study Medical Sciences at the University of Leeds.

There are many more individual success stories and some key statistics are that 27% of all grades achieved were A* or A grades, which is above the national average.  On the prestigious measure of students achieving grades ABB in at least two “facilitating subjects” (those most valued by top universities), 22% of Whitburn students achieved this measure against the national figure of 17%. 

The Principal, Mr Hardie, commented: “Well done to all of our students for achieving these wonderful results; they have been a privilege to work with in our Sixth Form. I’d also like to thank our hard-working staff and governors and our supportive parents and carers for helping the students in achieving their successes”.

“I’m delighted that the trust that everyone had placed in Whitburn Church of England Academy to create a successful Sixth Form has been vindicated by the excellent results, and by so many of our students achieving their destination goals. This demonstrates that our Sixth Form has real credibility and is building on our outstanding track record at GCSE level”.

Lee Craggs, Head of Sixth Form, said: “I am delighted that our students’ hard work has been rewarded, and that we have students who have secured places on some of the most competitive courses and at some of the most prestigious universities. However, it is also pleasing that the majority of our students gained places at universities of their choice. Others were able to secure the results they needed to embark on school leaver programmes and higher level apprenticeships. Some of our students overcame serious adversity away from their studies and were able to achieve great things despite this. We have encouraged our students to be aspirational and to set their bar high. We are all impressed that so many of our students have achieved their aims. Our first two years as a Sixth Form has been incredibly rewarding and we wish our alumni well as they embark on their next adventure”.

Some individual success stories

Student Results Destination
James Graham 4 A* grades (Further Maths, Geography, Maths and Physics) University of Durham (Mathematics)
Chloe Manuel 1 A* grades, 2 A grades New College, University of Oxford (English Language & Literature)
Anna Barrett 2 A* grades, 1 A grade University of Leeds (International History & Politics)
Michael Bluff 1 A* grade, 2 A grades University of Birmingham (Mechanical & Materials Engineering)
Anna James 3 A grades University of Manchester (Actuarial Science and Mathematics)
Matthew Johnson 2 A* grade, 1 A grade University of Durham (Natural Sciences)
Freya Lovely 4 A grades University of Leeds (Medical Sciences)
Katie Oliver 1 A* grade, 2 A grades University of Edinburgh (Geography)        
Adam Wallace 1 A* grade, 2 A grades University of Newcastle (Medicine)          
Phoebe Hedley 1 A grade, 2 B grades, (Diana Award winner) University of Newcastle (Linguistics)        
Mark Godfrey 3 A grades University of  Newcastle (Mathematics)                   
Harry Graham 3 A grades University of Manchester (Pharmacy)