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Students Celebrate as Excellent Results Announced
An outstanding set of A-level results are being celebrated today by students at Cornwall College St Austell as almost 400 students collected their AS and A2 exam results.
A number of students arrived early keen to find out if they were some of the few who had gained the new much talked about A* grade, only awarded to those who achieved 90 per cent or more in their exams. Nationally, just 8% of students reached the grade.
Ross Lagor, 17, from Carn Grey, gained an A* in Accounting which is the subject he will now study at Exeter University. He also achieved 3 As in Maths, Physics and P.E.
Ross said: “I am really happy. I really didn’t expect to get an A* in accountancy, but feel totally overwhelmed. All summer I had tried to take my mind off my exams, but glad that today has come and I can now celebrate my results.”
Sam Dunn, 18, from Par, received 3 A grades in Physics, Geology and Maths having already achieved an A in Chemistry a year early in 2009. Sam’s achievement is particularly well-deserved as he has dyslexia which makes it harder for him to learn than his fellow pupils. His determination has paid off though and he will now go on to Imperial College London to study Chemistry.
Sam said: “I’m so happy! The past few weeks I’ve been feeling so nervous, but now I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My friends have all done really well and we’re all hoping to go out and celebrate our hard work.”
Sam’s dyslexia affects his writing and spelling ability and he is not great at pronouncing words and speech. To get around this, he tries to memorise things by reading books and his notes.
Sam added: “I do feel that dyslexia does make you feel different and sometimes I feel singled out. Geology was particularly hard as there was a lot of writing involved. However the College really helped me and I couldn’t have done it without their support.”
Charmaine Vague, 18, from St Austell achieved a coveted A* grade in Communications and Culture. She was one of four on her course to achieve the grade – the highest number of A* grades achieved in a single subject at the College. She also achieved a B and two Cs in Sociology, Psychology and English Language and is set to study Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE).
Charmaine said: “I’m so happy and can’t believe it, I really didn’t think that I would do this well. I did try really hard in my exams and so glad that I put the work in as I have got my place at UWE. Last night I was really nervous and now I just feel really pleased and can’t stop smiling.”
Rebecca Williams, 18, from St Austell, also achieved an A* in Communications and Culture but went one step further by gaining 100 per cent in both her exams and coursework.
Rebecca said: “I’m really, really pleased and so excited. I can’t believe how nervous I was waiting for my results. I checked the UCAS website on Wednesday night and knew that I had got my place at Marjon to study Teaching. I got an A* in Communications, two Bs in Sociology and English Language and Literature and a C in Psychology. I even got top marks in my Communications and Culture coursework and exams!”
James Brown, 19, from St Austell, has accepted a place at Westminster University. He said: “I have done better than I thought I would as I’m often quite pessimistic about exams. I was so nervous and couldn’t even check the UCAS website to see if I had got into university, but I got two As in Politics and English and a B in French. I have got enough points to get into Westminster to study Politics and can’t wait to move to London.”
Kezzi Hazelton, 18, from St Austell, achieved a B in Geology, a C in Chemistry and a D in Maths. She has decided to undertake an Apprenticeship in Nursing to gain work experience and may then apply to university.
She said: “I am really pleased with my results, but have decided not to go to university this year as I didn’t get into my first choice. Instead I have decided to do an Apprenticeship in Nursing and work my way up that way. At the moment I am a health care assistant at Newquay Hospital and think I will get more experience and on the job training following this route and earn a wage at the same time. I may try the university route in a few years, but at the moment I am looking forward to starting my training.”
Kezzi is one of a number who have decided not to go to university and have instead chosen an alternative option. Others are enrolling on a national diploma course in a specific subject as they believe more qualifications will make them more appealing to universities, whilst those who have not gained the required grades needed at A-level for their chosen university courses are taking an Access to Higher Education Diploma at Cornwall College which can lead to university.
Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College, said: "I am very proud of our students’ achievements. Their excellent results have contributed to a 100 per cent pass rate in 25 subjects; testament to the dedication of students and staff alike. I wish them the best of luck and I look forward to hearing from them in the future to see how they progress in their careers.
“For those who may not have done as well as they’d hoped, they must remember there are alternative options and our staff are here to help.”
Cornwall College still has clearing places available. A dedicated hotline is open, manned by the College’s specialist staff on 0845 22 32 567.
