A-level results
NUMBER PASSING WITH TOP GRADES RISES IN MANCHESTER
THE overall A-level pass rate in Manchester schools, not including colleges, has fallen slightly to 97.2pc from 98.3pc last year, but the number scoring top grades has risen.
Thousands of pupils around the region found out their results yesterday. Nationally, the proportion of top marks awarded at A-level rose for the first time in six years, with boys outperforming girls in achieving A and A* grades.
Yet figures also suggested the government’s major overhaul of exams WAS having an impact on results.
There were celebrations across Greater Manchester as pupils opened their results.
The percentage scoring top grades (A*-A) increased to 26.1pc from 23.1pc in 2016 in Manchester schools. These included entries from King David High School, Parrs Wood Sixth Form, Whalley Range High School for Girls and William Hulme’s Grammar School.
Colleges across the region celebrated some fantastic achievements too.
Connell Sixth Form secured a pass rate of 97pc and The Manchester College a pass rate of above 95pc for A-E grades.
Pupils at The Manchester College were paid a surprise visit by Corrie star and former college pupil Brooke Vincent.
Lisa O’Loughlin, principal of The Manchester College, said: “This year’s A-level students have performed incredibly well, especially with the
challenge of the new grading system for their exams. The staff are immensely proud of the efforts of our students and we are here to support both those who did and didn’t get the grades they were hoping for.”
Pupils at Manchester’s independent schools also shone - with some outstanding results at The Manchester Grammar School and Manchester High School for Girls.
The head girls team at Withington Girls’ School notched up an impressive clean sweep of top grades, securing 10 A* and A grades between them.
Head Girl Emily Herbert, from Styal, is going to read philosophy, politics and economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford after achieving two A*s and two As.
Her deputy Sitara Bartle is heading to Cambridge after achieving an A* and two A grades.
And Emma King, who is also a deputy head girl, secured 3 A*s and will go on to study English Literature at Edinburgh.
Boys emerged as the winners in this year’s results, pulling ahead of girls in terms of A*-A grades for the first time in almost two decades.
It is the first time the A*-A pass rate has risen since 2011.
The increase comes amid major changes to the qualifications, with a move away from coursework and modular exams throughout the course as well as the decoupling of AS-levels, making them more challenging for students.