It has been yet another great day for Torfaen students who sat their A-Level and AS-Level examinations. According to Coleg Gwent, A-Level pass rates at Wales’s largest further education college have improved yet again in another record-breaking year.
Watch the Webster film of the Results Day here|
Geoff Walsh, Campus Director at Pontypool Campus, Coleg Gwent, said: “Congratulations to all our students at Pontypool Campus who have worked so hard to get these results. Their high grades are a real credit to them and also to their families, who have given them so much support.
“I’m delighted that so many will now be able to go on to their first choice at university or into their chosen career. These results reflect the enormous amount of dedication and support given to students by our lecturers and tutors at the campus – so many thanks to them all.
“I’d also like to congratulate our National Diploma and Welsh Baccalaureate students, who have also achieved great results this year.
“I wish all our students at Pontypool Campus every success at university or in their chosen career.”
But it wasn't just students who were queueing up for results today. Lots of parents were also on hand to support their hard working offspring. In the case of 18 year old Laura Drummond - formally of Pontypool but now living in Canada - her results were opened by her Mother Gail, Grandmother Yvonne and younger sister Emily.
18 year old Laura Drummond, gained AAAB at A-Level in History, Film, Media Studies and English Literature. She is now living in Alberta, Canada, and has a place at university in the US in January. She will study Native American History and Archaeology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Laura's mother, Gail, and sister, Emily, are also moving to Canada in October.
Laura’s mother, Gail, said: “Laura has worked very hard and really deserves these results – last year she had 2As, a B and a C at AS-Level, and she put a lot of effort in to bring her A-Level results up to 3As and a B.”
Geoff Walsh, Campus Director at Pontypool Campus, Coleg Gwent, said: “Many congratulations to Laura for her fantastic results. Congratulations also go to our tutors and lecturers who helped her achieve the grades she wanted. Best wishes to Laura in her future studies and new life in America.”
Other A Level high fliers included Fleur Portman
18, from Pontypool, who gained AAA at A-Level in History, Psychology and RE. She has a place at Cardiff University to study Psychology and hopes to become a psychologist.
Emily Cooper, 18, also from Pontypool, who previously went to Gwynllyw Welsh Medium Comprehensive School in Trevethin, gained ABB at A-Level in English Literature, Sociology, and Religious Studies. She got better results than expected, particularly as she completed her Sociology A-Level in just one year. She has a place at Swansea University to study Law.
Emily said: “My Religious Studies teacher was amazing, and gave me extra classes in the run up to my exams. My Sociology teacher was really good, too, and helped me get my A-Level in a year. It’s a really good college.”
Sarah Blackwell, 18, from Pontypool, gained ABB at A-Level in History, Sociology and RE. She is going on to Cheltenham University to study History and Religious Studies.
Adam Parfitt, 18, from Pontypool, who previously went to West Monmouth School, gained ABC at A-Level in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. He has a place at Cardiff University studying Biology.
Liam O’Shea gained ABB at A-Level in Religious Studies, Media Studies and Sociology against the odds. He has studied at Pontypool Campus for four years and has had to study whilst working part-time to support himself.
He is now going on to Central University in Birmingham. Liam said: “At Pontypool Campus, they treat you with respect and give good quality lessons.”
Luke James, 19, gained BBB in Sociology, History and Religious Studies and has a place studying Theology at University of Wales, Lampeter. He hopes to eventually become a university lecturer.
AS-Level high fliers included:
Lewis Price, 17, from Blaenavon, who previously went to Abersychan Comprehensive, gained AAAB at AS-Level in Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Biology. He plans to go on to gain A-Levels at Pontypool Campus next year, before hopefully going on to Cardiff University to study Biology and Chemistry.
The pass rate for full-time Coleg Gwent students who sat examinations this year is 97.25%, up 0.24% on last year’s pass rate. A total of 131 A-Levels were taken at Pontypool Campus this year – up 31% on last year. The overall pass rate for full-time A-Level students at Pontypool was 93.5%, with an increase of 1.79% in the pass rate of part-time students at the campus.
Pontypool is one of six campuses at Coleg Gwent. Coleg Gwent is Wales’ largest further education college with more than 35,000 students. For more information on learning opportunities at Coleg Gwent, please telephone 01495 333333, email info@coleggwent.ac.uk| text the word GWENT to 88020 or log on to www.coleggwent.ac.uk|