Essex exam round-up: Didn't we do well...

Cheers went up at south Essex schools as hundreds of teenagers notched up first-class grades in the gold-standard exams, guaranteeing a coveted place at university or college.

Some impressive A-level performances came to light today as the all-important slips of paper were collected from schools.

Essex, considered the lucky county for Lottery winners, will show it can also come up with the academic goods as at least two schools were expected to produce candidates who have gained five As or more.

Staff and pupils at Westcliff High School for Girls were toasting a 100 per cent pass rate - every pupil who took exams received at least one grade A to E.

Around 76 per cent of pupils achieved an A or B grade, teachers said today (Thursday).

The average number of A-level points per student - with ten points being awarded for an A grade - was a staggering 25.5.

Eighteen-year-old Anna Stovick won high praise after she achieved four A grades in maths, physics, chemistry and biology and a B in general studies - totalling a massive 48 points.

Six other students received straight A grades in their exams. Delighted headteacher Pat Elliott said today: "We are very pleased this year.

"There were quite a lot of people taking the exams and we felt they worked very hard right up until the end and it shows in the results."

At Southend-based South East Essex College, four students excelled themselves.

Hannah Dodgson, 18, of Fleetwood Avenue, Westcliff, Sarah Groom, 19, of Beauchamps Drive, Wickford, Elspeth Martin, 18, of Edward Close, Rochford and Runa Uddin, 19, of Ramuz Drive, Westcliff, all scored 34 points, guaranteeing a place in higher education.

Pupils at King John School in Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, excelled themselves achieving the best results the school has ever had.

Around 98 per cent of students gained passes ranging from A to E while 52 per cent scooped A and B grades.

Delighted - Elspeth Martin, Aimee Goodrich, Sarah Groom, Runa Uddin, Hannah Dodgson and Adam Osborne celebrate at South East Essex College in Southend today

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Essex: A-levels delight for pupils

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette

Teenagers in north Essex were cock-a-hoop today (Thursday) after receiving bumper crops of A-level results.

And in line with the national trend, girls were in a class of their own with eight from Colchester County High School each getting five A grades, 12 achieving four grade As and another 18 each passing three subjects with A grades.

There were extra celebrations at Philip Morant School in Colchester, where for the first time since the sixth form was re-instated in 1996, a female pupil has won a place at Cambridge, to read natural sciences.

And Colchester Sixth Form College expects to be top of the college results league table for the three counties of Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk for the sixth consecutive year.

Fifteen of its pupils got the grades needed for places at Oxford or Cambridge.

At Colne Community College, Brightlingsea, girls achieved a slightly higher points score overall than boys.

One student gained four A grades, another three A grades and one added an A and a B to the three A grades passed last year.

All the hard-working students in schools and colleges have been praised by heads of teaching staff for achieving the grades to carry them through to the next stage of academia.

Hundreds are now poised to take up places at universities and colleges up and down the country.

Sixth form best ever results

The best overall A-level results to date have been gained by students at Colchester Sixth Form College.

The number of A grades went up by 10 per cent from last year and more than 50 students attained four grade As or equivalent or even higher grades.

And 700 students were expected to have obtained the necessary qualifications to go on to university - including a record 15 who obtained the grades needed to study at Oxford or Cambridge.

An average university entrance point score of 19.2 per student was achieved and principal Ian MacNaughton believed this was likely to place the results of the students at the top of the Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk College A-level results league table for the sixth consecutive year.

Mr MacNaughton said: "We are delighted at the successes achieved by our students and they and their teaching staff must be congratulated."

Outstanding students include Neil Brown from High Woods, Colchester, who got grade As in maths, further maths, computing, business studies and general studies. He will now go on to Kent University to study computer science.

Joe Eden, also of High Woods, Colchester, got A grades in computing, economics, maths, philosphy and general studies and will take up a place at Keeble College, Oxford, to study politics, philosophy and economics.

A place at Jesus College, Cambridge, awaits Martha Goyder of Ipswich, who achieved A grades in English, French, history, government and politics and general studies, while Dan Sherer of Colchester, got A grades in classical civilisation, English literature, history, archaeology and general studies and has been accepted at Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study archaeology and anthropology.

David Vaughan, of Colchester, will be going to Reading University to study finance after getting A grades in economics, politics, business studies, accounts and general studies, while Jenny Whitten of Stanway, will be going to Newham College, Cambridge, to study geography after passing biology, chemistry, geography, maths and general studies all at A grades.

Colchester: Praise for students and staff

With an A-level pass rate above the national average and at least one student bound for Cambridge, Philip Morant School is basking in its success.

A total of 58 students sat A-levels - slightly up on last year - and a further 15 took GNVQ exams at advanced level.

Sixth form director Leigh Hunter said: "Results continue to improve and with a pass rate this year of 94 per cent, it is well above the national average."

Star performer was Beth Rogers with A grades in chemistry, maths and physics, who will go an to read natural sciences at Newnham College, Cambridge.

Mr Hunter paid tribute to the commitment of staff and students who, he said, worked hard in partnership to achieve high standards.

For the fourth year running, A-level results at Thurstable School, Tiptree, have improved.

The average points score increased to almost 17 and the pass rate went up to 84 per cent.

Headteacher Nick Hammond said almost all students who applied for higher education places had achieved or exceeded their targets.

"It is particularly pleasing that, against the national trend, our boys have performed almost as well as the girls," he said.

Results at Hedingham School this year also improved.

Headteacher Susan Anderson said she was delighted although not surprised by the achievements of her students.

Particular noticeable performances came from Daniel Rooke and Craig Cordle who each passed in four subjects.

Daniel Drysdale, Matthew Herring, Adam Lucas, Hannah Stephens, Paul Sail, Tanya Lumbis and Karen Bridges each passed in three subjects "with very good grades," she said.

Hundreds of students at Colchester Institute were due to receive their results by lunchtime Thursday.

Staff and students at Colchester Royal Grammar School were delighted with their results.

Star performers were Tom Hall and Ben Saunders who each obtained five A grades and distinctions in two special papers.

The school had an average university points score for each candidate of 33.98, the equivalent of more than three A grades, a 73.4 per cent pass rate at A or B level and 21 students getting four A grades or more and eight obtaining five A grades.

The school has 104 pupils in the open entry sixth form with a quarter of the youngsters joining the year group from other schools.

Mr Jenkinson, who said he was very pleased with all the results, added: "I know just how hard everybody at the school worked this year and it is immensely satisfying to see that effort translated into success.

"The work does not stop there. The staff will now focus their efforts on the individuals who need help gaining entry to a university course of their choice." which a school spokesperson described as "brilliant" and added: "We are delighted for our students."

Head Elizabeth Ward said: "Our students have achieved a stunning set of results which reflect their hard work and dedication together with a committment from the staff and suport of their parents."

Colchester: Eight girls achieve 5 A-grade passes

There were screams and shrieks of elation as girls at Colchester County High School celebrated today with a brilliant A-level results.

Eight students have each gained five at A grade, 12 have passed four at A grade and a further 18 have all passed three subjects at A grade.

And one of the magnificent eight also passed the highly specialised Cambridge entrance step one exam in English despite being turned down for a place at the university's Magdalen College where competition is fierce.

Sophie Maggs from Boxted will now be reapplying for a place and hoping to take some time out in Russia.

She said: "I think everyone who applies for a place at Cambridge is going to be predicted high A-level grades."

Her delighted mother Patsy-Ann Maggs said: "She's been working very hard and had extremely good teachers at the school."

Sarah Mizielinska will also be considering reapplying to Cambirdge after scoring four grade As and the highest grade possible at Step for chemistry in Cambridge's own exams.

A delighted duo from Frinton were also celebrating their five A grades.

Susan Cobb is going to study to be a vet at Bristol University and Lucy Pickard will be taking medicine at Imperial College, University of London.

They said they were able to find time for other interests despite their high academic workload.

Susan said: "Most of my spare time is taken up with music, I play the violin, trumpet and double bass."

Lucy said she managed to find some time for music and sailing.

Lucy Tyne of Great Oakley is taking a year out to teach at a school for children with learning difficulties in Tanzania before studying veterinary medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London after getting five grade As.

A total of 46.1 per cent of all entries resulted in Grade As and 73.7 per cent of all entries gained A or B grades which a school spokesperson described as "brilliant" and added: "We are delighted for our students."

Last year's figures were 39.7 per cent and 69.3 per cent respectively.

The school has 104 pupils in the open entry sixth form with a quarter of the youngsters joining the year group from other schools.

Head Elizabeth Ward said: "Our students have achieved a stunning set of results which reflect their hard work and dedication together with a commitment from the staff and support of their parents."

The eight students with five grade A passes are Susan Cobb, who is planning to take veterinary science at Bristol University; Emma Cowens - medicine at Newcastle University; Gemma Hughes - computing at Imperial College, University of London; Sophie Maggs - has a place to read English at Bristol University; Lucy Pickard - medicine at Imperial College, University of London; Laura Sandford, modern languages at Magdalen College, Oxford University; Lucy Tyne - veterinary medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London; Kerry Waylen - natural sciences at Newnham College, Cambridge University

A further 12 girls have 4 A grades: Lucy Abbott, Teresa Booker, Laura Daniells, Francesca Frame, Eve France, Emma Franklin, Alexandra Harvey, Vivienne Li, Sarah Mizielinska, Naina Stannard, Rchel Turner, Hannah Williams.

Hockley: Stars for a week of exam results

A group of nervous students from a Hockley school shared the tension of A-levels with the nation when they opened their results live on TV today.

The four 18-year-olds from Greensward College were asked to become stars for a week on the early morning family show, The Big Breakfast.

Christine Cairns, Martin Cass, James Falkingham and Kate Phillips were the programme's "family-of-the-week" to mark A-level results out today.

The Channel Four show usually has families appearing in the slot to watch the programme being filmed, meet celebrity guests and take part in on-screen competitions.

A Big Breakfast spokeswoman said: "The majority of our viewers are aged 16 to 24, so getting A-level results is something a lot of them have already done or are about to do in the future and they can relate to the suspense of waiting for results."

Vice-principal of Greensward College Martin Clark said: "Opening results for your A-levels is always particularly difficult because for many people it's to do with where they go next.

"It is a nerve-wracking time and the fact that they opened them on live television says a lot about themselves and their qualities."

Greensward English teacher Mike Bailey - one of the teachers who appeared on the show with the students - had nothing but praise for the programme.

Showtime - left to right Christine, James, Martin and Kate

Picture: NICK ANSELL

South Essex: A grades for terrific trio

Simply the best. Three jubilant south Essex students today (Thursday) joined the ranks of the elite after notching up a staggering five As in their A-level exams.

Brainy Tamara McMillan, 18, broke all records at the King John School in Thundersley as she scooped five As in English Literature, English Language, psychology, history and general studies.

Cheers went up at Southend High School for Boys as James Beddow and Michael Garner collected their impressive results today.

James, 18, of Marine Close, Leigh, jumped for joy as he received his results in chemistry, physics, maths, further maths, and general studies, securing him a coveted place at Oxford University to study chemistry.

He said today: "I am very pleased. I needed two As and a B to get on my course but five As is just excellent."

James was heading off for a celebration party with friends at Tots nightclub in Lucy Road later today.

Michael, 18, of Seleborn Street, South Woodham Ferrers, secured his place at Trinity College, Oxford, to study maths thanks to his outstanding results in computing, French, maths, further maths and general studies.

He said: "I took maths because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in the future. However, it is the best test of intelligence and it's what employers look for."

Nationally the results were the best ever after improving for the 18th year running - hitting an astonishing pass rate of 89.1per cent.

Students at Southend High School for Girls were cock-a-hoop.

The average point score per student - A equals 10 points - stood at an amazing 26.79. The grades A to E pass rate was 99.72 per cent and the percentage A and B grades was 46.33.

Headteacher Ruth Alinek said: "Our pass rate is staggeringly high - there was just one fail in the whole school, which is amazing."

Staff and pupils at Westcliff High School for Girls were toasting a string of successes. Around 76 per cent of pupils achieved an A or B grade, teachers said today. The average number of A-level points per student was 25.5.

Eighteen-year-old Anna Stovick achieved four A grades in maths, physics, chemistry and biology and a B in general studies - totalling a massive 48 points. Six other students received straight A grades.

Delighted headteacher Pat Elliott said: "There were quite a lot of people taking the exams and we felt they worked very hard right up until the end and it shows in the results."

At Southend-based South East Essex College, four students excelled themselves. Hannah Dodgson, 18, of Fleetwood Avenue, Westcliff, Sarah Groom, 19, of Beuchamps Drive, Wickford, Elspeth Martin, 18, of Edward Close, Rochford and Runa Uddin, 19, of Ramuz Drive, Westcliff, all scored 34 points.

At Greensward School in Hockley, teachers hailed the first-class results of students. Its average points score stood at 19 and in 11 subjects, the school scored a 100 per cent pass rate.

Headteacher David Triggs said: "Once again, the hard work of our students and staff has brought first-class results."

Pupils at King John School in Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, excelled themselves achieving the best results the school has ever had.

Delight - James Beddow and Michael Garner (left) leap for joy as Tamara McMillan (right) raises her arm to salute her success

Pictures STEPHEN LLOYD and LUAN MARSHALL

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