A STRING of top results at a Middlesbrough academy will see several students embark on university courses leading to careers as medics and scientists.
High-achieving students at The King's Academy, in Coulby Newham, achieved grades that matched or exceeded their offers, many for top Russell Group universities.
Jack Young led the way with an A*, two A grades and a B, as well as a further A in the extended project qualification (EPQ), to read physics at Manchester or Southampton, closely followed by Reece Hooker who vastly exceeded his offer of three Bs with two A*s and an A to read physics at Leeds University.
The top girl, Catherine Race, arrived at the academy unconvinced about the confirmation of her place at the University of East Anglia to study medicine.
“I just can’t believe it’s right. I’ve got all the numbers with me to start calling around to get a place thinking that I would not have got the grades. I was absolutely convinced I hadn’t got them, especially for chemistry where the grade boundaries were really hard,” said a tearful Catherine.
Opening her results enveloped confirmed her three As in biology, chemistry and religious studies and an A in the EPQ to guarantee her place.
The King’s Academy head boy Joseph Clark led from the front to gain three A grades in maths, physics and chemistry that will see him studying chemical and nuclear engineering at Leeds University.
“I’m glad it’s all over, I can relax now,” he said.
Top athlete Libby Hedger's career in pharmacy is up and running with three As and a B in the EPQ, grades she achieved while running 400m at regional and national level.
Libby, of Coulby Newham, said: “I’ve got what I needed so I’m really happy. I really love chemistry and did some work experience in the dispensary at James Cook Hospital, which I really enjoyed. I find the mechanics of drugs and how they work on the body and change people’s lives fascinating so I’m really looking forward to my degree.”
Among the other top performers pursuing a different career path, Helen Kotch will follow her dream to study fashion at Northumbria University with an A*, A and C.
Joe Watts, who still study economics and finance at Leeds, said: “I’m over the moon, I’ve never been so happy. I couldn’t eat yesterday, I was so past myself, so I’m so happy to have got what I needed.”
Nearly one in four grades at The King's Academy were A* or A, with over three-quarters of grades being a C or better.
Principal David Dawes said: "We are very pleased with the overall results and congratulate all our students, especially those students who have achieved outstanding grades from some exceptional individual performances.
"The vast majority of our sixth formers have got into their first choice universities, with nearly half of these being Russell Group universities. A quarter of students destined for higher education gained at least AAB, making them eligible for the most competitive courses and universities.
"With these results, we expect the academy to be in the upper range national for ‘value-added'."
A group of students who achieved two As and B included Aisha Bashir, whose two As and a B guaranteed her place to read history at Lincoln University; Olivia McAvoy, who can study English language and linguistics at York with two As and a B; Rebecca Wiberg, who gained two As and a B to read law at Leeds; and Chloe Gilbey, who achieved two As and a B. Rebecca Quinn is also destined for York University to read philosophy and politics with an A and two Bs.
Aisha said: “Lincoln is a gorgeous place so I’m really excited to be going there. I’ve been travelling and doing other things over the summer but the results started looming and it’s really built up over the last week. I’m over the moon with my results. The teachers here are so supportive, especially if you’re struggling, and there’s always someone to help you.”