Petroc A-level students are celebrating record-breaking results today (Thursday, August 17), with over a quarter (26%) of all learners receiving A* to A grades.
Petroc’s A-level sixth form, the largest in Northern Devon, achieved an overall pass rate of over 99% for the sixth consecutive year. Many of the 293 second-year students who sat their A-level exams are going on to Oxford, Cambridge and other top universities, as well as apprenticeships or employment with world-class businesses.
21 of the A-level subjects offered at Petroc achieved 100% pass rates. This is an outstanding result.
Ofsted Outstanding in Sciences, the college was also delighted with its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) grades, with 67% gaining the top grades A*- B. Included in this, nearly two thirds of Maths grades were the best A*- A.
Additionally, 71% of Art A-level students achieved A* to B grades. Over a third of Modern Foreign Language students (French, German and Spanish) also achieved A* to B grades and, across all A-level subjects, 54% of learners achieved A*- B.
“These record-breaking results are testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented learners and we are so proud of them. It demonstrates that you can achieve your dreams at Petroc,” said Principal and CEO Diane Dimond.
Jenny Gibson-Mee, Assistant Principal for Arts and Science, added: “This is another highly successful year of A-level results which can be credited to the aspirations of our learners, their supportive families and our brilliant teaching and professional tutor teams.
“We pride ourselves on offering a truly supportive environment within our community. The enrichment opportunities we offer are reflected in the incredible career pathways our learners are now progressing onto. From medicine to veterinary science, politics to law, our learners are truly amazing. My congratulations to you all.”
Among Petroc’s high-achievers was Jai Curtis, from Fremington, whose A*, A, A grades meant he met his offer to study History at Oxford University – becoming the first in his family to go to university. All of Petroc’s students who received Oxbridge offers were successful.
“I was really happy to meet the offer but I’m still in a state of shock,” Jai said. “I just want to thank my lecturers. They were all completely behind me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Keira Brennan, from Barnstaple, achieved two A* and two A grades to secure a place at Bristol to study Maths.
“I’m really happy! I was nervous when I opened my results, and I was shaking a lot,” she said. “I would recommend A-levels at Petroc because you have a lot more freedom than at school.”
Eliza Daniel, from Holsworthy, credited her successful place to study Veterinary Medicine at Bristol to Petroc’s VetMed Academy which provides specialist support and work experience to ambitious students.
“It really helped with the applications and gave me more confidence going into the exams,” she said.
