A level success at Farnborough
Posted on Thursday 16 August 2007
AQA awards first AQA Baccalaureates to Farnborough Students
Another first at Farnborough Sixth Form College – the AQA Bacc
Five students in top five in their subjects nationally
Identical twins split between Oxford and Cambridge
Students from Farnborough Sixth Form College were the first in the country to be awarded the new British Baccalaureate by the Awarding Body, AQA. The new diploma reflects the broad educational experience offered by the College, including the Extended Project which the College has pioneered.
Congratulating Farnborough Sixth Form College students on their awards, John Mitchell, Director of Qualifications Development and Support at AQA said:
“I am delighted to be able to congratulate the students at Farnborough Sixth Form College on becoming the first to be awarded a new British Baccalaureate developed by AQA. Farnborough Sixth Form College has been a natural choice for us to trial this new qualification given their leading reputation for excellence”.
College Principal Dr John Guy said, “The AQA Bacc awarded to our students reflects the fact that an advanced level education is about more than three or four A level grades – as evidenced by the wide opportunities available to our students, including travel scholarships to support voluntary activities abroad”.
Out of the 68 students who pioneered the Extended Project as part of their A level programmes, 51 were awarded a Distinction by the Awarding Body. Their project work drew national attention and has been the basis for the development of the new qualification which is about to be approved by the government.
One of the students, Kate Holloway, 18 of Ascot, said, “This new qualification has taken me by surprise – I was not expecting something extra but I am pleased that it recognizes the wider activities which I undertook whilst at College”.
Kate achieved five grade A passes at A level in Mathematics, English, French, Music and General Studies, as well as a Distinction in the AQA Bacc. Kate will now go to Selwyn College, Cambridge, to study music, one of 20 students from the College going to Oxford or Cambridge Universities.
Five students in top five in their subjects nationally
Five students at the College achieved one of the top five marks in the country for their A levels: Victoria Cox, 18, of Fleet, in English Literature, Kathryn Parratt, 18, of Aldershot, in English Language and Literature, Donna Hughes, 18, of Fleet, in Business Studies, and Nick Coxon, 18, of Fleet, and Tristram Smith, 18, of Woking, both in General Studies.
Nick Coxon, who achieved four grade As to win a place at Wadham College, Oxford, to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics, said, “It feels fantastic to have got into Oxford after two years of study. I’ve had an amazing time at Farnborough Sixth Form College and this is pretty much the perfect end to College life”.
Dr Guy said, “We always hope that one of our students might achieve one of the top five marks in the country in a subject but to have five in one year is remarkable – I am very proud of their achievements and of the staff who have taught them”.
The College is celebrating a record 99.3% pass rate at A level, with 57% at grades A or B. Popping champagne corks at the celebrations with jubilant students, Dr Guy said, “Our students have set a wonderful national example, not only by their excellent A level achievements and the new Extended Project but also by their participation in a wide range of extra-curricular activities which for the first time have been taken together to receive national recognition in the AQA Baccalaureate”.
Identical twins split between Oxford and Cambridge
Identical twins Emma and Rebecca Cuthbertson have a double celebration and opened a new rivalry: Emma has won a place at Oxford and Rebecca at Cambridge University.
Emma achieved Grade A passes in Biology, Mathematics, Psychology and English Literature and will be studying Biological Sciences at Merton College Oxford. Rebecca achieved A grade passes in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, English Literature and General Studies and will be studying Engineering at Robinson College, Cambridge, in October.
Emma and Rebecca, 18, from Ewshot, received their results on-line at home on Thursday morning. Emma said, “It’s a fantastic feeling to receive the results I’d hoped for!”
Rebecca added, “We are pleased for each other as well as ourselves!”
