Academy's first A level students set high standards for the future

Academy's first A level students set high standards for the future

14th August 2014

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AN Academy's first A level students have set a high standard for future years as they celebrate some outstanding performances in today’s results.

This year's cohort were the oldest students at Bede Academy, in Blyth, when it opened in 2009 and they joined as Year 9s, and were the first to record GCSE results two years ago.

Nearly a quarter of the Academy’s results were grade A or better and 54 per cent were a B or higher. The overall pass rate was 96 per cent. In BTEC subjects, nearly three quarters of the results were distinctions or higher.

Two students achieved the grades they need to go on university to study medicine. Jessica Long is bound for Cardiff with four A grades, while Elizabeth Cape will stay closer to home at Newcastle University with three As.

Jack Herron, a talented drummer and Bede's Musician of the Year, was top of the boys' chart with an A* and three As. He will read computer science at Durham University, closely followed by Matthew Coulson, who will read chemical engineering at Leeds University with three As and a B.

The Academy's English department did particularly well with Natalie Wall securing two A*s and a B to study English literature at Durham University; Jamie Brown with two A*s and a B to study English literature at Glasgow University; Charlotte Broomfield with two As and a B to read English language and literature at Newcastle University; and Rachel Byrom with an A and two Bs to read English literature and language at Sheffield University.

Principal Gwyneth Evans said: "This year's results, being our first A levels, represent an historic moment in the life of Bede Academy and I'm delighted that these students have set such a high standard.

"They and their teachers have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and they deserve to celebrate today. We now have a benchmark going forward and will continue to set our aspirations and expectations high so that future years can emulate and surpass this success."

Other top performers were Rebecca Mein, Rachel Short, Ellen Bower, Liam Maddison, Jonathan Brown, James Swan, Ryan Chipperfield, Sophie Bell and Jack MacKenzie.

Liam Maddison, 18, of Blyth, who achieved an A*, A and two Bs, said: “The staff at Bede went the extra mile to ensure I succeeded. They went to any length and were always there.”

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