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Coleg Gwent A Level learners celebrate their success

Coleg Gwent students and staff are today celebrating another year of excellent A Level results across their campuses. The college’s pass rate was a superb 98.5%, which is above the Wales and UK comparator for the fourth year running.

Across Coleg Gwent, 392 students sat just under 1,000 A Level examinations between them and 76% of these achieved A*-C grades. An impressive 100% pass rate was achieved in 34 A Level subjects across a wide range of subject areas. There were smiles all round as the College opened its doors to students at the Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone (BGLZ) and Crosskeys campus early this morning to enable them to collect their results.

Principal Guy Lacey said: “We’re delighted with our consistently high pass rates which reflect the commitment and hard work of our students and staff. Coleg Gwent is one of Wales’ top performing colleges and these results are a testament to the standard of education students can expect when they study with us.

“Congratulations to all of our students in achieving these excellent results. We know they work hard and these results will enable them to progress on to good universities or take up exciting employment opportunities. We wish them every success for the future.”

Students at Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone enjoyed a fantastic 100% overall pass rate in grades A*-E – up from 98.72% last year, while those at Crosskeys campus celebrated with a 97.62% overall pass rate.

Charlotte Mitchell, 18,of Swffryd, scored an amazing 2 As in Sociology and an A* in Psychology and is off the study Law at the University of Liverpool. This was despite overcoming the challenge of having to lip read in many of her lessons – which she achieved with the help and support of her tutors. The Welsh Deaf Squad U-18 rugby player who became hard of hearing after suffering chickenpox at the age of two hopes to become a barrister or solicitor and to make a difference to society. “I think the law is really important to society and I want to be able to help make the law clearer and fairer for everyone,” said Charlotte, who was thrilled with her results today. The Dreaming Spires await straight A* student after the 18-year-old won a place at Oxford University.

Eve, from Croespenmaen, Newbridge, achieved four A*’s in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics, and will now read Medicine at Oxford. Eve, who says she hopes eventually to become a surgeon, said “I really couldn’t be happier. I had to put my life on hold and work very, very hard for the past two years. I gave up a lot but I knew my goal. It was all well worth it. “My tutors were amazing. They really couldn’t have done more. They were available to me any time of the day or night. The support I had was fantastic.

Mature student Denise Cuer has not looked back since giving up a high flying career in international sales to study Physical Education at A level. Denise, aged 51, decided to take her career in a totally new direction after 20 years and is now heading to the University of South Wales to study sport and exercise science at degree level. The competitive swimmer, from Caldicot, Monmouthshire, said: “I just decided to do something completely different after spending 20 years in the fire alarm industry working stupid hours in international sales. I’m really proud and happy of my achievement although I was just 5 marks off an A*. “I was a little nervous when I started my course, returning to education after so long but everyone, students and tutors, were fantastic especially my tutor Ross Bridgeman. He is amazing.” Denise hopes to set up a health, strength and fitness based business after graduation.

Seren Rudge, 18, of Oakdale was thrilled with her 3 A*s in Maths, Biology and Chemistry and is looking forward to studying medicine at Cardiff University. “I didn’t think my exams had gone as well as I’d hoped so this is such a shock,” said Seren, who hopes to be a doctor, as she fought back the tears. The South East Wales squad U-18 netball player, whose father is a paramedic, praised her tutors for their support throughout her course. “I want to be a doctor as I’d like to help people and I think it’s such a worthwhile profession,” she added.

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone success stories

Jared Swift gave his mum the best birthday present ever by achieving 3 A* grades in his A-levels. The 18-year-old, from Blaenau, got the top marks in Physics, Computer Science and ICT and is now planning what steps to take next. He has got a place at Leeds University to study Computer Science, but did much better than he expected so will be having a look at other options. Jared, who is hoping for a career in programming or software engineering, said: “”I’m pretty surprised by these results to be honest. I was hoping to get an A in Computer Studies so I can’t actually believe that I managed to get an A* in all of them. It’s my mum’s birthday today so it’s nice for her too.”

Eve Thomas battled with severe mental health issues throughout her A-level courses at Coleg Gwent but with the guidance and support from the Inspire team at Coleg Gwent and a lot of hard work and dedication from Eve, she achieved brilliant results which means she is on her way to Cardiff University to study Religion and Philosophy. The 18-year-old from Victoria, Ebbw Vale, got an A in Religious Studies, a B in Psychology and Welsh Bac and a C in Music and said she was so relieved to have done so well. When she started as a student, she was under the care of the Inspire team, who helped and protected her. “I had to have lots of help and they’ve been brilliant. I couldn’t have done it without them. Everybody pulled together to help me and I’m really looking forward to going to university.”

Eve’s mum Tracy Hughes was delighted with her daughter’s results. “She was very vulnerable when she first started here and there were lots of safeguarding measures in place. The Inspire team have been brilliant and she’s worked so hard. I’m so proud of her.”

Max Phillips is celebrating his amazing A-levels results after getting top marks in Physics, Maths and Computer Science. The 18-year-old Tredegar student knew that he had got into Exeter University to study Physics thanks to a UCAS email before he picked up his results, but he was very surprised that he did so well. “I’m pretty happy. I knew I’d be OK because I got the email to say I’d been accepted but obviously you don’t know the grades until you pick them up. I really wasn’t expected three A* – it was much better than I expected. I’ve always preferred the science subjects to the arts and I don’t know what I want to do long-term but it will be probably down the science route.” He praised the support he’d received from the tutors at Coleg Gwent and felt it had prepared him for university life. “It’s a good way to start feeling more independent. It’s less formal than school and the support, teachers and facilities are brilliant.”