A-level results: St Joseph's celebrates success

Staff and students at St Joseph’s Catholic Academy are celebrating today after achieving a 98% overall pass rate at A-level.

Frank O’Neill, headteacher of the Mill Lane school, said he was delighted with the results.

Within their results, 4% of pupils achieved A*s, compared to 4.7% last year, and 18% achieved a combination of A*s and As, compared to 19% last year.

71% of pupils achieved A* to C grades and 100% of students earned at least one A-level or equivalent.

97% earned two and 82% achieved three, and 79% of the subjects had a 100% pass rate.

Mr O’Neill said: “Our results are a little bit lower than last year, but those were our best results ever. I’m really pleased with how well our pupils have done at a time when A-levels are becoming increasingly difficult.

“We’ve got lots of success stories and triumphs from kids who have overcome a whole range of challenges to achieve top grades.

“It looks like a lot of them are getting into the university of their choice so we’re very pleased about that.”

The school also achieved an 82% pass rate at AS-level.

Among the high-achieving students was Caitlyn Marshall who scooped As in biology, chemistry and maths and an A* in her extended project on animal obesity.

The 18-year-old, from Hebburn, is off to Nottingham University to study veterinary medicine.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I opened my results, I was thinking, ‘are these really mine?’

“I think everyone’s been stressing about them so it’s a relief to finally have them.

“I’ve wanted to be a vet forever, I’ve always had a passion for it so I’m so glad I got into uni.

“I’m really excited about going, I know some of my flat mates already so I can’t wait to get there. I think it’s going to be an adventure.”

Rebecca Ward was also celebrating after scooping three As in history, business studies and maths.

The 18-year-old, from East Boldon, is set to study accounting at Newcastle University.

She said: “I was really happy with my results, I really wasn’t expecting to get an A in maths because I’d struggled with it quite a bit.

“I chose accountancy because I’m interested in that side of business and Newcastle has a great course for it.

“I’m going to be moving there and I’m a bit nervous about moving out but excited too.”

Emma Purvis, 18, from Jarrow, achieved an A* in history and As in English literature and law.

She’s off to Leeds University to study history.

She said: “I’m not sure what I’m going to do after uni yet but I want to study history because I’m really passionate about it.

“I was so surprised when I opened my results. I did an access course at Leeds uni which lowers the results that you need, so I was just hoping for the A and two Bs that I needed to get in.

“I’m a but nervous about moving away but really excited.”

Ben Stainthorpe is going home with As at A-level in maths and physics and two distinction stars (D*D*) in his engineering BTEC.

The 18-year-old, from Hebburn, is set to study electrical engineering at Newcastle University, where he’ll be sponsored by Eastbourne firm Edwards.

He said: “I’d checked UCAS before I came in this morning so I knew I’d got into uni but I was still really happy when I saw my results.

“I’m really excited about going to uni. I went down to Eastbourne for an interview at Edwards and they’re going to sponsor me throughout uni. After my first year, I’ll go to work there in the summer and there’s a chance of getting a job there afterwards.”