Star students find their voice to travel the world
THOUSANDS of students breathed a sigh of relief after their longawaited A-level results were finally revealed.
Two years of hard work paid off for many, with some exceptional performances at schools across Manchester.
Nationally the proportion of top marks awarded at A-level rose for the first time in six years, with boys once again outperforming girls.
Some 26.4 per cent of exams have been awarded these top grades – despite changes to toughen A-level exams in England.
Celebrations were in full swing at the city’s schools, including Parrs Wood Sixth Form, Whalley Range High School for Girls and William Hulme’s Grammar School.
In Manchester’s schools, excluding colleges, the A-level pass rate remained the same at 98.3pc.
Two best friends from Parrs Wood are heading to universities in America after scooping great.
School pals Ali Ahmed and Adam Khan collected their excellent results ahead of their big move stateside in September.
Ali, from Didsbury, achieved As in biology and sociology and a C in chemistry, and is off to study at Claremont McKenna in Los Angeles, California.
Adam, 18, from Fallowfield, scooped an A* in maths, an A in English literature and a B in drama, and will take a place at Connecticut College.
Both boys secured funding to study abroad by applying via social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.
Ali, 18, said he was ‘ecstatic’ to secure his place at college in America. “I thought I had done worse for some reason but it all worked out okay in the end,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to travel the world and I thought why not study at the same time?
“My mum was really upset when I said I was leaving because I’m the youngest of four.
“Applying for a bursary has enabled me to make the move. I’d definitely recommend other people to consider applying for it next year.”
Adam, who sings in the Parrs Wood Harmony Choir with Ali, was one of the many young people at the Ariana Grande concert on the night of the Manchester Arena attack. He said: “That night affected us all but singing with the choir really helped us so much. “It made us feel better and was definitely a big part of my time at Parrs Wood.” Colleges across the region celebrated some fantastic achievements too. The Manchester College celebrated a pass rate of more 94pc while the Connell Sixth Form scooped a 95.2pc pass rate. Principal of The Manchester College, Lisa O’Loughlin, said: “This is fantastic achievement, we’re really proud of all of our students and it’s wonderful to see their hard work pay off. “Today is a celebration of all learning and we’re equally proud of all our students who have remained dedicated and completed their studies, whatever their grades and whichever pathway or qualification they have taken.”