Another set of outstanding A Level results were celebrated by students 
at Harlow College as they collected their exam results today.

18 subjects saw a 100 per cent pass rate, which contributed to the 
College's overall 99.6 per cent pass rate, an increase even on last
 year’s record breaking results, smashing the national pass rate of
 97.8 per cent.

This is the second year of the controversial A* grade and sixteen of 
these were awarded to Harlow College students.

The college has done particularly well in both the perceived 'harder' 
subjects, including Maths, History, and Chemistry and, the ‘arts’ with
 the A* grades particularly prevalent in A2 Photography. Once again 11 
A*s were awarded in the subject.

18 per cent of students were awarded either A*s or As.

A*-B grades stand at 41 per cent (38 per cent last year), A*- C
 grades stand at 77 per cent (69 per cent last year).

Colin Hindmarch, principal of Harlow College, said: "These are record
 results for us, our remarkable pass rate of 99.6 per cent mirrors our
 success rate which is also 99.6 per cent, showing that this isn’t a 
college for dropouts, staff work hard to ensure we keep our students.

“Our AS results are also record breaking and cause for celebration
 with a 97 per cent pass rate. You can’t get your A2s without passing
 ASs and once again we’ve shown that if you’re serious about A-levels
 you should come here.

“Our students and staff have made Harlow College one of the best in
 the country, we are currently second in the country, and, if we don’t take top position this year, becoming England’s number one isn’t far
 away for us.

”

Simone Webb (17) from Loughton was the college’s star performer with 
three A*s and an A. Simone is off to Oxford to follow in the footsteps
 of government ministers and will study PPE. Simone said: “I am
 delighted and relieved. I was very nervous earlier this morning.”

Prior to coming to Harlow College, Simone was home schooled, she said;
 “Harlow College has been a really good experience, it’s been good 
preparation for university. I have done better than expected, I 
thought I would get two A*s. Harlow College has been really supportive 
and assisted my application to Oxford… Really good news.”

Billie-Jo Blackett (19) from Hertford has just returned from volunteer
 work in Madagascar. She received a B in Geography, A in Environmental
 Science and a C in Biology. Billie-Jo is going on to Bangor University 
to study Marine and Terrestrial Ecology. She said; “Due to ill
 health, I started a year later than my school friends. I have had a 
great experience here and I am pleased with my grades, I got what I 
needed.”

James Baker (18) from Waltham Abbey is off to study History at Canterbury in Kent. He got an A in History, a B in Business and a B in
 Media. To top up his UCAS points James also did an extra AS in
 Economics, he got an E but it was enough to tip the overall score in
 his favour. James has ambitions to work in the City in either finance 
or insurance.

Onyinye Akpenyi (19) from Harlow came from Nigeria two years ago and
 has ambitions to become a neurosurgeon. Onyinye received two A*s in
 Chemistry and Physics and two As in Biology and Maths. Onyinye is 
taking a gap year and will be sitting additional exams to qualify for 
medical school; her preference is Cambridge. She said; “Harlow
 College is a good place to be, I would certainly recommend it. The
 lecturers are focused and friendly, the college has exceeded my 
expectations, it’s been a surprising experience.” Onyinye hopes to
 take up a place at medical school in 2012.

Alistair Springate (19) from Ware said he was “over the moon” with his 
result. He’s off to Lampeter College to study Ancient and Medieval
 History. Alistair is severely dyslexic and also suffers from
 dyscalculia and dyspraxia. He received a C in History and Geography 
and a B in AS Politics, he said; “I could not have achieved these
 results without the support of the college, I’m over the moon.”

Harlow College is experiencing an increase in students applying to
 take A-levels at the college, currently 12 per cent up on last year. 
Applications have increased from outside Harlow, most markedly from
 Bishop’s Stortford. The college has also seen an increase in students’ 
indication that Harlow is their first choice college. Last year 93
 A-level students applying to the college said it was their first 
choice, this year the number has risen to 167, an increase of 80 per
cent.

Students gathered at the college from 10am, some ripping open their
 envelopes in great haste, others taking their time as they conquered 
their nerves.

Rob Halfon MP added his congratulations, he said; "Yet again, Harlow
 College presents another set of outstanding results. Harlow College is 
a place of excellence in our town and I’m very proud that we have one
of the best colleges in England.

“I pay tribute to the staff, students, parents and the principal for 
their hard work in making this year’s A-level results such a success.”
 Louise Turner, assistant principal and head of sixth form said: "These 
are fabulous results. We’re working closely with universities to
 ensure students get places, and we have dedicated advice and clearing 
assistance throughout this week and next. You don’t have to be a
 student here to benefit from our help."