A-Level pass rates in Croydon have stayed around 96%, provisional figures from yesterday’s results day have shown.
Croydon’s A*-E pass rate improved slightly from 95.74% in 2017 to 95.78% this year, rising against a national drop from 97.9% to 97.6%.
And the borough is closing the gap on A*-C grades; despite being below the national rate of 78.4%, 72% of Croydon’s students obtained A*-C grades, up 2% on 2017.
Croydon’s post-16 students also succeeded in their BTEC examinations, with a pass rate of 99.02%. This high pass rate was made all the more impressive in that 89% of students achieved the high grades (Distinction*, Merit or better).
Riddlesdown Collegiate student Isabella Hayden, 18, got A grades in English, History, Latin and a B in Classics. She will be going to University College London to study Classics in October.
She said she was “really nervous” before opening her results, but was relieved with her results, which were more than UCL were asking for.
Eighteen-year-old Jason Jack last month received two starred Distinctions and a Distinction in a BTEC Sport and got an A grade in A-Level Business.
The Riddlesdown Collegiate student will be heading to Sussex University next year to study Business and Management following a year out travelling around New Zealand.
He said: “I enjoyed the fact that I could do an assignment in a BTEC and revise for my Business A-Level. It’s manageable.”
Emily Wright, 18, who got two As in History and Classical Civilisation at Riddlesdown Collegiate along with an A* in English Literature, said: “I haven’t been sleeping and it’s not been a fun couple of weeks.
“You should focus on the things you don’t know and ask questions. All I did was ask questions – there’s no such thing as a stupid question and I hope my parents are proud!”
Soumick Dey, principal of Riddlesdown Collegiate, said: “It’s another strong set of results, at a time where more A-Level aspects are changing.
“It’s a bittersweet day. I’m glad they’ve done so well but sad they’re leaving. We wish them all the best.”
“Congratulations to all of our students. It’s great to see their hard work has paid off, and I also thank all of our school staff and parents who have helped them achieve these results.”
Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning
