Persistent high achievers Dover Grammar School for Girls had the best results in its history, smashing all records for A Level results in East Kent.

Head teacher Matthew Bartlett is delighted with the new record - with 71.6% of all exams being awarded one of the top grades.

He said: “There is much talk of underachievement in coastal areas but here at Dover Grammar School for Girls we continue to fight against those assumptions and our students respond with excitement to any challenges presented to them.”

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He added: “The amazing results this year are over 10% up on our previous record achieved last year” .

The Frith Road school, the only twice Ofsted Outstanding school in the district, saw A* grades increase by over 40% and with every single student gaining at least 3 A levels and almost 60% achieving 5 A levels.

QCA points per entry which shows how well a student does in each of their A Levels rose to a record 223 points and the average grade achieved at A Level was a B, placing the school in the top 10 overall performers for Kent Grammar Schools.

He added: “I am delighted for every single one of our students who should be intensely proud of themselves. I would also pay tribute to every one of my dedicated colleagues who go over and beyond what we expect to ensure that every day a little magic is created which makes these results possible. By doing the ordinary well, we make the extra ordinary possible.
the school achieved:

• 100% of students gained 3 or more A level passes
• 71.6% A*-B grades (up from 61.25% in 2014). The highest ever achieved by the school)
• Record 14.1 % A* grades
• Over 30% of students gained entry to Russell group universities; five Oxbridge places were achieved, together with places for medicine and dentistry

Dover Grammar School for Boys has had the highest number of top year 13 A level grades in its history.

The schools says this is due to the increasing popularity of its sixth form and the continuing upward trend in standards.

Almost half of all qualifications awarded were at A*, A, B or Distinction*grade.

This included 100% of all Level 3 BTEC awards being at the highest grade Distinction* and 45% of all A Levels awarded at A* to B grade.

Head teacher Fiona Chapman said: “This is a tremendous achievement by our students and we are delighted that all the hard work and commitment by the students, in partnership with a dedicated team of teachers, has been rewarded.

“Their success means that the vast majority will now go on to their chosen university course, employment or gap year project as planned. This year, the range of university courses chosen has further widened in line with increasing student aspirations.”

For the second year running Goodwin Academy in Deal is celebrating a 100% pass rate in its A-level results.

More than 80% of sixth form students achieved A* to C or the equivalent.

Vocational subjects also had the highest results the school has ever achieved, with 70% of students achieving a distinction grade or better.

Jane Hadlow, interim principal for the former Castle Community College, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for our young people and reflects not only their hard work but also the immense encouragement they have had from all their teachers and staff at the school who have worked to support them.

“They have risen to the challenges and been helped to make great progress and achieve their best. We are all very proud of them and their achievements and we look forward to seeing them take their successes into their young adult lives.

“Our students can, and do, achieve their hopes, dreams and ambitions.”

This is also true for the 50% of students who applied for a place at university and received offers.

This number is the highest percentage of higher education applications that the school has ever seen.

Alex Day, 18, was no exception. He received a distinction in sport, a distinction* in graphic design and a C in his extended project, on the topic of corruption in sport.

It secured him a place Southampton University where he will study graphic design.

He said: “I’m very excited. I really like the place. I plan to work for a company and then start my own graphic design business.”

Twins Robert and Charlotte Robbins, 18, were also pleased with their results and both plan to go universities in Essex and Kent to study law and marketing respectively in September.

Students and staff at Astor College celebrated another year of success.

Once again the Dover school achieved outstanding grades with 93% of all students passing two or more exams.

A total 41% of all A levels taken were passed with grades A* to C and 20% of these gained A* to B grades.

Principal Lee Kane said: “Once again we are delighted with the achievement of our students and there have been some exceptional results.

“Many students have top grades across the board and are now progressing to university.

"Students and staff have worked incredibly hard over the past year and we are really proud of our students’ results. I would like to once again thank all of the staff for going the extra mile with the students and the parents and carers for their continued support.”

Both Maddie Skinner and Rebecca Ball now have enough grades to go to study fine art and design at the UCA (University of Creative Arts) in Canterbury.
Maddie got two As in photography and fine art and a B in textiles. She said: “I’m very happy with these results, they are what I wanted.”

Rebecca got an A* in fine arts, and two As, in textiles and 3D design.“I’m very pleased. I didn’t think I would get these grades.”

John Connor-Newcombe got a B in law, a merit in sport and a D in ICT.
He now has a place confirmed at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridgeshire to study law.

He said: “I am particularly pleased with my grade in law. I’m really excited that I got the course and the university I wanted, that is what I’ve been working hard for, for two years.”

Dismissing claims that A Levels are getting too easy, John said: “Definitely not. Law is especially not easy. It took a lot of hard work and determination. I really had to push myself.”

Sophie Martin got two Cs in English literature and history and D in general studies. She is going to Christ Church University in Canterbury to read early childhood studies. She said:“I am pleased, these grades are about what I expected.”

Chris Russell, chief executive of the umbrella group Dover Federation for the Arts Multi-Academy Trust, said: “I am excited by the huge improvement across the board with the A level and BTEC results.

“My congratulations go to the students and the teachers who have taken Astor College to a different level.”

Dover College celebrated some of the best results on the Kent coast with a four year high.

The college saw 44% of all A-level and BTEC results with an A* or A grade.
More than half of all grades were above a B.

This means that its (combined A levels and BTec) UCAS points total of 347 per candidate is higher than selective grammar schools in the area based on previous years' results.

All departments saw 77% of all A-level and BTEC subjects with a grade no less than C.

Art, textiles and health & social care BTEC achieved nothing less than an A grade.

Out of a total of six modern language subjects on offer, including French and Spanish, 63% of all grades received were either an A* or an A.

Gareth Doodes, Dover College’s headmaster said: “I am delighted by our excellent A-level and BTEC results.

“They are a testament to all the hard work of our pupils, staff and parents. In what is an extremely exciting time for the college with the launch of our Project 150 development plans, these results represent a strong platform on which to grow and consolidate.

“Our leaving pupils can now proceed with confidence to university. They leave the college having had the benefit of small class sizes, creative teaching and high academic standards within a caring, family community.”

• Some of those pupils who really stood out for their excellent results were college prefect Camilla Bandera, who achieved two A*s and three A grades in her A-levels and BTEC subjects.
• Adam Pavey, another bright start, received one A* and four As.

The Duke of York’s Royal Military School students celebrated a third year of increased success at A Level and BTEC Level 3 courses.
Fifty two students in Year 13 were entered for more than 25 different A Level and BTEC courses, with 98.1% passing two or more sujects.

• Joe Graham is off to his first choice, the University of Manchester to study artificial intelligence.
• Lucy Davies, a school prefect and junior under officer, is also going to her first choice, the University of Southampton to study paediatric nursing.
• Tadiwanashe Mkonto, also a junior under officer is going to his first choice too - the University of Kent to study actuarial science.

Chris Russell, the School’s executive principal and commandant said: “These excellent A Level results demonstrate how students can study at a very high level and also participate fully in sport, combined cadet force, ceremonial and other social activities.

"This special combination develops superb qualities of leadership, character and resilience. I am very proud of all the students, and of the teachers who have helped them achieve these results."

More 100 students received their results today at Sir Roger Manwood's and most were over joyed with their grades.

Headteacher Lee Hunter praised the students for achieving the school’s best results in three years, with 65% of papers getting a B or more.

Mr Hunter, who joined the school two years ago, said: “It’s a real team effort, involving every teacher that teaches A level, the parents and of course the students themselves.”

The school has had many staffing changes recently, but these positive results show that the level of teaching hasn’t been affected. “A lot of people have retired in the last few years. It’s always difficult when replacing really experienced people but all the ones that we’ve got coming in have actually been fantastic and have settled in very well.”

Molly Farley, who received an unconditional offer from her top choice, said: “I’ve had such amazing support from my teachers, they’ve given their all to make sure I push myself”.

Having got ABC, she can’t wait to continue English at the University of East Anglia.

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