A LEVEL SUCCESS AT DERBY COLLEGE
Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre is celebrating a bumper crop of top A level grades this year.
Of the 359 students who sat the A level examinations at the College, 27% achieved A*, A and B grades and overall – 97% gained a pass grade.
AS results were also high and thousands of BTEC National vocational students performed well with many students achieving triple distinctions which are equivalent to A grades at A level.
Staff at the Joseph Wright Centre opened the doors three hours earlier this year to enable students to have a head start on accessing clearing if they needed it.
Kate Martin, Head of Faculty at Derby College, explained that many students took advantage of this additional time for different reasons.
“We are delighted with the results which is the result of two years’ hard work by students and we are particularly pleased with the huge increase in the number of students who achieved the higher grades.
“In the past it was the students who had missed their target grades who mainly needed support to access the clearing system on results day.
“However, this year, there were far more who have achieved higher than expected grades and who, through adjustment clearing, have been able to hold those places whilst exploring options at other universities with higher entry requirements.
“Students are far more discerning about their choices of university now, particularly as they will have to pay higher tuition fees.
“We have therefore found that students who have narrowly missed out on grades have, rather than going through clearing and perhaps compromising on their university choice are now looking at different options such as reapplying or choosing Foundation Degree courses at local colleges closer to home which cost far less.”