Brighton & Hove joy at results day success

Early figures suggest that 58.8 per cent of the city’s 2,068 A-level students achieved A*-B grades, against a national average of 52.9 per cent.

Overall passes locally stand at 97.9 per cent, which is in line with the national average.

Councillor Dan Chapman, chairman of the Children & Young People Committee, said: “These results are particularly good news given the changes taking place nationally with A-levels.

“Our students may have been feeling anxious but they have come through with flying colours.

“But today is not just about A-levels. More and more of our young people are seeing the value of the high quality vocational courses and apprenticeships. I’m every bit as thrilled with the success stories we’ve seen in these areas as well.

“We will continue to work closely with our schools, colleges and training providers to bring about further improvements in future.”

The results also saw schools and colleges perform well in Level 3 BTEC qualifications, a vocational alternative to A-Levels.

More than 700 students gained BTEC qualifications, with more than half achieving the top Distinction and Distinction* marks.

A council spokesman said the percentage of AS-Level students passing with good grades was also up, despite overall entries being down by 40 per cent as a result of the introduction of reformed stand-alone AS-Levels.

The number of A*-B grades at AS-Level went up by 8.5 per cent across all centres.

In the International Baccalaureate Diploma, available at Varndean College, the 47 students averaged an amazing 36 points – rated by universities as the equivalent of three A grades at A-Level.