Students at Harlow College are celebrating an outstanding set of results today, achieving a 95% A Level pass rate, with half of students securing top grades of A* to C.

The excellent results have opened doors to some of the UK's leading universities, with students progressing to institutions including Loughborough, Exeter, Queen Mary University of London, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool and Cardiff. They will go on to study a wide range of subjects including Criminology, Politics, Biological Sciences, Law, Nursing, Psychology, Medicinal Chemistry and Aerospace Engineering.

 

There was further success across the College's vocational and technical programmes. Students studying qualifications such as BTECs and UAL courses achieved an impressive 94% pass rate, with 66% securing Distinction*, Distinction or Merit grades. These results provide students with exciting opportunities to progress to university, start apprenticeships or move directly into employment.

Harlow College's T Level students also delivered exceptional results, with learners in Early Years, Health, and Construction and the Built Environment achieving a 98% pass rate, with 89% of students gaining Distinction or Merit grades.

T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels and combine classroom learning with practical experience and substantial industry placements. The qualification equips students with the technical knowledge, skills and real-world experience needed to thrive in the workplace and progress into highly skilled careers.

Becky Jones, Vice-Principal of Harlow College, said: “Huge congratulations to all our graduating students this year. We are delighted to celebrate another year of excellent results, with our strong higher-grade profile continuing to be maintained across the college; especially in all our new T Level qualifications. These achievements are a testament to the hard work, commitment and determination shown by our students throughout the 2025-26 academic year.

 

Success at Level 3 requires dedication, perseverance and resilience, and our students have demonstrated all these qualities to gain their success. These achievements reflect the effort they have invested in reaching their goals, often balancing demanding study programmes alongside part-time employment and other commitments.

 

These results are just the next step towards our students’ future careers; they leave us with confidence and should feel extremely proud, whether progressing to university, apprenticeships or employment. All the staff wish them every success and happiness as they embark on the next exciting stage of their journey.”

Bridget May, Head of Sixth Form, said: “To all our A Level students - congratulations on completing you’re a Levels! You should celebrate the hard work you have put in over the last two years and look forward to the next step in your journey, whether that be university, an apprenticeship or work. I am proud of what you have achieved and wish you all the best for the future!”

Harlow MP, Chris Vince, was equally enthusiastic. “I would like to join with Harlow College in congratulating their students on today’s results. I know that they are down not only to the hard work of the students themselves but also the teachers and support staff. I wish all of Harlow College students the best of luck for their future endeavours.”

Among the students who achieved excellent results were:

Georgia Lee, 18 - A Level Student

Georgia achieved an A in Sociology and Bs in Psychology and Media before securing a place at Loughborough University to study Criminology. She credits her success to the support she received at Harlow College. "Because of the smaller classes, tutors really got to know us and what we needed, so the support felt tailored to us," she said. Georgia was "very proud" of her results and aims to work in youth criminology, helping young people who need support to re-engage with education.

 

Sophia O’Dwyer, 18 - A Level student

Sophia achieved an A in Sociology and Bs in Psychology and Law after overcoming significant self-doubt throughout her A Levels. She credits her success to the support of her teachers, who helped her keep going when she wanted to give up. Despite finding A Levels "the most challenging thing I've ever done", Sophia persevered and achieved grades higher than predicted. Taking a gap year before deciding on university or an apprenticeship, she says the experience has given her confidence and shown her that "you can do whatever you want to do."

Max Harlow, 21 – A Level student

Max achieved a B in Psychology and Cs in Biology and Chemistry after making the decision to retake two A Levels through independent study at home. Determined to secure a place at Queen Mary University of London to study Biomedical Sciences with a Foundation Year, Max developed a disciplined approach, using online resources, revision notes and past papers. He also valued the ongoing support of his tutors, who were available whenever needed. His advice to future students is simple: “Start straight away, stay consistent and keep going throughout the year.”

Hammad Shah, 18 – A Level student

Hammad achieved an impressive set of A Level results, earning an A in Maths and Bs in Physics and Chemistry, and remains focused on his ambition of studying Civil Engineering at university, ideally at a Russell Group institution close to home.

Interested in building and infrastructure, Hammad is drawn to projects involving roads, bridges, electrical systems and water networks. He praised the support he received from his teachers, who were always available with guidance and advice. His advice to future A Level students is to start revising early, work hard and aim to master every topic.

Esra Gunduz, 18 - A Level student

Esra is celebrating an outstanding set of A Level results, achieving an A in English Literature, an A in Psychology and a B in History. Having worked hard throughout her studies, she was delighted to see her results and secure her place at the University of Hertfordshire to study Psychology.

Reflecting on her time at Harlow College, she valued the support and independence offered by staff. Her advice to future A Level students is to stay resilient, work hard and remember that the rewards are worth the effort.

Zac Wollington, 19 - T Level student

Zac is celebrating a Distinction in his T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, a course he chose after deciding a practical route better matched his career goals.

During a two-month placement with a chartered surveying firm, Zac gained hands-on experience in site surveys and report writing. He said the experience was “100%” valuable in preparing him for the industry. Zac will now progress to the University of Reading to study Surveying and Construction Management. His advice to others is to research their options, adding that a T Level offers “the best of both worlds” through academic study and real workplace experience.

Anita Ama Serwaa, 20 - T Level student

Anita’s journey at Harlow College began in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and has led her all the way to a place at Birmingham City University to study Adult Nursing. Initially lacking confidence, Anita credits college staff with helping her grow, describing her teachers as “the best” and praising their support throughout her studies.

After progressing through Level 2 Health and Social Care to a T Level in Health, Anita completed an industry placement at Princess Alexandra Hospital. She said the experience “confirmed” nursing was the right career for her. Her advice to others is to consider a T Level, as the placement offers invaluable insight into working in healthcare.