Congratulations Pour in for Students’ Outstanding Achievements

Universities, law firms and other educational institutions have been among the many voices offering their congratulations to students from The Sixth Form College after a record-breaking year of A Level results.

Nearly half of students gained the high-end A* - B grades to help them onto the next step in their educational, vocational or occupational lives; over a quarter of the 400+ students who applied to university are now set to join the prestigious Russell Group universities.

The Universities of Cambridge, Nottingham and Manchester have all sent their best wishes to our students who are set to spend at least the next three years with them, along with the London School of Economics and Chester University. Elysium Law LLP and Hill Dickinson have also offered felicitations and The Sixth Form College Association hailed the College’s ground-breaking year within the UK’s 93 specialist sixth form colleges, which is the highest-performing sector for 16-19-year-olds.

Local media were out in force at the College during the day too, with the Liverpool Echo (click for article), Wirral Globe (article), Wirral Radio and Bay TV Liverpool all eagerly covering the students’ incredible achievements.

Sam Killcross’s A*AA grades earned him a place to read History at Trinity College, Cambridge, and the university extended their praises.

A stunning three A*s mean that Joe Bowly heads to Manchester to take History & Politics. The red brick institution took the opportunity to welcome Joe on the start of his journey.

Ellie Blakemore's nigh-on perfect A*A*A means that her first choice of studying Chemical Engineering at Nottingham was more than secured, and the Engineering Department at Notts’ hashtag suggests that her performance was never in doubt.

Elsewhere, Emma Donnelly is to take up employment with international law firm, Hill Dickinson, and the College’s Bar Mock Trial barrister mentor, Rick Grey, and his company, Elysium Law LLP, sent their best wishes to her at the beginning of her legal career.

Parents of out-going students were also vocal in celebrating their sons’ and daughters’ achievements, while advocating the College’s academic and pastoral qualities which supported them to succeed in their A Level and equivalent qualifications.

Class of 2016 Head Girl, Ellie Jones, heads to Chester University in September to begin a degree in Adult Nursing, having scored the best possible grades in her treble award Health & Social Care BTEC – an outstanding triple Distinction*.

Ellie’s mum, Chris, said: “The College has been fantastic for Ellie. The teaching and support have played a massive part in helping her do so well in her results. I know she really, thoroughly enjoyed her time over the last two years.”

Chris, who’s been a nurse herself for 25 years, explained that the nature of the Level 3 HSC BTEC at the College has set 18-year-old Ellie up perfectly to follow in her mother’s footsteps: “The way the course is structured is fantastic. The placements gave her the chance to get a feel for what it’s actually like to work with people in a care setting, and see whether it’s really for her. Obviously, it turns out that it has been, and the blend between the practical and the academic has been brilliant.

“I’m absolutely delighted with what Ellie’s achieved.”

Sophie Hatherly earned an unconditional offer to her first choice university of Aberystwyth to study Maths & Physical Geography, having traded sixth forms after her first year in search of a more independent yet supportive option.

Sara, Sophie’s mother, described her daughter as a ‘whole new person’ since joining the College, and said: “I’ve been blown away by the level of support that’s offered in terms of her personal tutoring by Jen (Foden, Sophie’s Personal & Guidance Tutor) and her UCAS application for university.”

Although Sophie’s chosen the higher education path for her next step, mum Sara said: “I loved the fact that the university option wasn’t forced upon students. In other places, it’s viewed very much as the only avenue but knowing that tutors encourage investigating all the options was really pleasing. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the whole system.”

Fellow proud mother, Paula Blakemore, celebrates her daughter Ellie’s success (mentioned earlier) from the unique position of also being The Sixth Form College’s Head of Law.

Paula said: “I’m delighted that Ellie chose to come to the College from a grammar school. She’s excelled in her A Levels and received first class teaching and pastoral support that’s enabled her to go to her first choice university. She took advantage of the wealth of extra-curricular activities too: debating at the Wirral Youth Parliament and completing her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. She’s really benefitted from the whole experience of The Sixth Form College which is a proper stepping stone to university.”

Donning her Head of Law cap, Paula continued: “Results in Law have been, once again, outstanding. A2 high grades (A* - B) of over 60% reflect all the hard work and dedication of the students and the staff. Results have been well above national average and the success is down, in part, to the wide range of extra-curricular activities available. The College’s Bar Mock Trial team competed in the national final at the Old Bailey this year, and four students had work placements at national firm, Weightman’s. Plus, a number of students have been shadowing barristers from Chambers in Liverpool.”

Former Lawyer, Paula, concluded by detailing that over 200 students are expected to take up Law classes at the College this year, and she welcomed the newest member of teaching staff, solicitor Jane MacKenzie, who will join the Law department in September.