A-level results day - Oldham celebrates once again

Reporter: Simon Smedley
Date published: 16 August 2018


Little wonder Crompton House School head teacher Karl Newell was grinning almost from ear to ear as the A-level results were revealed this morning (Thursday).

Once again Crompton House excelled after another academic year of hard work, and the result? A breath-taking 100-per-cent pass rate.

Mr Newell told the Chronicle: "It's another fantastic day for the school.

"It's always a bit of a worry when there's new specifications in the pipeline, but to secure a 100-per-cent pass rate at A-level means there's been lots of smiling faces this morning.

"The vast majority of our students will now go on to their first choice of university, so it's just been a wonderful morning.

"We could not have wished for a better set of results.

"All the staff are so proud of what the students have achieved."

Big smiles from Crompton House pair Rose Hinton and Lizzie Wilson

Rachel Milligan secured three A* grades, and will now head to study for a Masters degree in Maths at Durham University.

She said: "When I opened my results I was so giddy, but I feel quite calm now.

"I was really nervous, but it's been brilliant because it's both my mum's and my dads' birthdays too."

Penny Makinson secured two A* grades, an A and a C, and hopes to move into a teaching career, or alternatively, educational psychology.

Congratulations to Crompton House students Josh McDonald and Penny Makinson

She said: "I'm so happy. I've got a place at Bath Uni so I'm over the moon.

"I was nervous this morning, but I'm so relieved now.

Josh McDonald secured an A* and two A grades in his exams.

He will now head to Loughborough University to study aeronautical engineering, then subsequently onto a career in the RAF.

"It's a major relief," said Josh.

"Obviously I'd put a lot of work in 

"I want to join the RAF eventually. I'm already a member at the Air Cadets and that's just something I want to do."

Good times at Oldham Sixth Form College this morning

There is also plenty to celebrate at Oldham Sixth Form College this year as pass rates and high grades are up on the previous year’s strong results in the context of the more challenging new A-level exams.

OSFC's A-level pass rate is up and once again above the national rate at over 98-per-cent.

With top grades up by 4-per-cent on last year, the college continues to build on its superb record for A-level studies. 

OSFC students have secured places at Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities, and there are many other superb outcomes in terms of both progression to a wide range of universities and to other excellent options including apprenticeships, gap years, Art Foundation courses and directly into employment.

Jayne Clarke, OSFC Principal, said: “This is a fantastic set of results. 

"There has been a greater level of uncertainty about outcomes with linear exams and the new tougher A-level specifications.

"I am very proud of the achievements of our students."

Meanwhile, Oldham Hulme Grammar School sixth form students have achieved another set of excellent A-level results.

Almost a third of grades achieved (32%) were at A*/A, and in total 57% of Hulme’s grades were at A*-B level.

Thirty-two-per-cent of students achieved at least two A grades and 20% of the cohort secured at least one A*.

There were a number of superb individual performances.

Phoebe Dickson was Hulme's top performer

Phoebe Dickson achieved four A* grades and has secured her place to read Natural Sciences at Cambridge.

Shaheera Noor joined Hulme’s sixth form from Dubai and has achieved three A*grades. She is going to Manchester University to study Psychology.

Julian Greenwood will read English Language and Literature at Oxford with two A* and one A grade.

Rahman Choudhury, who joined Hulme from Oasis Academy for the sixth form, will be studying Dentistry at Manchester having also achieved two A* and one A grade.

Hulme Principal Mr Mairs said: "The school is very pleased with these impressive results, which are just reward for the dedication and commitment of both pupils and staff at Hulme.

"Our Year 13 cohort can look forward to taking up the top university places they have secured and the school wishes them every success for the future."

Across the country, A-level students have been awarded the highest proportion of As and A*s since 2012, amid changes toughening the exams in England.

Some 26.4% of entries have been awarded the top grades this year, although A*s dropped 0.3 percentage points to 8%.

England's exams regulator has said the results show a steady national picture at a time of significant change.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are finding out their results.

Overall, 97.6% of A-level entries were awarded A* to E grades.


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