STUDENTS at the Castle School and Marlwood School have celebrated an excellent summer of A Level results, the first since officially merging their sixth forms.

The joint sixth form, which offers courses at both the Castle School sixth form site in Thornbury and at Marlwood in Alveston, saw an impressive 78 per cent of its pupils achieve at least a C grade, with more than 30 per cent obtaining an A or A* grade.

Among the many high achievers in the sixth form were Marlwood’s Ben Baldwin, with an incredible four A*s that will see him head to the University of Nottingham to study mathematics, and both Daniel Gadish and James Ling from the Castle School, both with confirmed places at the University of Birmingham to study Physics and Mathematics respectively after achieving three A*s.

Having learned of his success, Ben Baldwin said: “I’m really pleased with my results and I’m glad that all my hard work over the last two years has paid off.

“I’m really looking forward to going to uni next year.”

James Ling said: "I am buzzing. I was not expecting these results and am really glad the hard work has paid off.

"I was predicted two A*s and an A but I suppose I doubted myself because it was not what I had predicted for myself at all."

Other high scorers include Elizabeth Evans, Callum Hattersley, Leif Moreau, Will Romain, Ben Liddington, Rebecca Hewitt, Naomi Crabb, Liv Chanelle, Simon Sheppard, Martha Turvey, Jaime Hampton, Chris Rowe, Ellie Bainbridge, Naomi Crabb and Mia Scarborough – all of whom achieved at least A*AA or better. 

In total, over 40 students obtained A grades in at least two of their three A-levels, with very few not achieving a place at their desired university.

Louise Davies, head teacher of the joint sixth form said how delighted the school was with the results and the fantastic achievements of the students.

“It’s not just about those with the very highest grades,” she said. “We’re equally delighted for all those who have worked so hard, and met their individual targets at all levels of ability.

“As a result of this work, there are over 130 young people from our joint Sixth Form now preparing to head off to universities across the UK, and others heading into exciting apprenticeship and training opportunities.

“This was the first year of revised national A-levels in some subjects, which were undoubtedly harder and which caused much uncertainty for teachers and students when we didn’t know what the new exams and standards would look like.

“It’s a testimony to the hard work put in by everyone at Castle and Marlwood that the results have been maintained at their consistently high levels even with these changes.

“I’d like to thank all the teachers and parents for their support of these students. We have all enjoyed working with them, and wish them well as they move on to their exciting futures.”