Rochdale Sixth Form College 99% A-level pass rate and outstanding Oxbridge success

Students at the College celebrated passing their A-level exams

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Rochdale Sixth Form College students achieved the college's best ever A-level results this year with a 99% pass rate and a 2% increase in A* and A grades - above the national average for the sixth year running.

The college also acheived its best ever Oxbridge success with four students securing their places at Oxford and Cambridge universities - 60% above the national average.

Martha Southall, 18, achieved two A*s in geography and economics, two As in English literature and maths, plus an A* in an extended project. She is going on to study politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford.

She commented: “I’m delighted with my results and looking forward to starting my student life in Oxford. I’m not sure what I want to do after university. A-levels were stressful and took a lot of time management, but it was worth it.”

Azeem Amir, 18, achieved two A*s in law and economics, and a B in psychology.  He will be studying business management with sport at Salford University.

He said: “The jump I made from the mock exams in January was amazing. Economics was my weakest subject and I got an E in the mocks. I worked so hard and I was gutted. I can’t believe how well I’ve done. I didn’t expect that and I’m over the moon.”

The 18-year-old, who is registered blind, said studying was ‘extra difficult’ for him due to the time it took to study and how hard he worked.

He continued: “I sat all eight exams over seven hours. I had three consecutive ones in a week. I call it ‘the week from hell’ because it was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. I was under so much stress and I was so fatigued afterwards.”

Originally looking at attending University in Worcester, he will be remaining local to Manchester because of his football efforts.

As a footballer currently playing for the England Blind Development Squad and also part of the Emerging Talent Programme, he aspires to be an England international footballer by 2018, and to take part in the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.

Azeem is well on his way to achieving this dream as the talented youngster is off to Hamburg to play in a tournament, returning the day before his first day at university.

He added: “University should be an interesting new environment for me. It will be a change of lifestyle with things that most people take for granted like how to get there and I’ll have to take each step as it comes.”

Azeem smiled: “I didn’t imagine I would improve so much between January and today. It just shows hard work pays off.”

Isaac Carstemsen, 18, achieved three A*s in maths, further maths, and his extended project about how maths and music connect. He also achieved an A in computer science and a B in music.  He is going to study maths and music at Leeds University because he ‘wants to keep his options open'.

He said: “I was very pleased with my results, although I was nine UMS off an A in music. It was stressful, but it could have been worse. The extended project was downtime to it all and I enjoyed it.”

Samuel Flint, 18, achiveed an A* in maths, As in physics and chemistry and an A* in his extended project about photonic laser thrusters. He is going to study aeronaut engineering at Loughborough University as he has aspirations of working as a rocket propulsion engineer for Space X.

He commented: “I was pretty confident in my maths and chemistry but you can’t tell with physics until you sit the paper because it’s so niche; you have to throw all your knowledge at it and hope some of it is right.

“Everyone says A-levels are hard and scary but I found them pretty straightforward. I listened to the teachers and advice I was given and spent my free time revising and completing past papers. I did all I could so the exam would feel like one of those past papers. If I could give any advice, it would be that.”

Zaroon Riaz, 18, is going to study dentistry at Manchester University after achieving three Bs in biology, chemistry, and maths, with an A in psychology.

She said: “We started our career choices in Year 10, and I wanted to do something with medicine. I shadowed both a doctor and a dentist, and found dentistry was more hands on and I preferred it. It is more what I wanted to do and it is science based. The application to university was hard, but we had good designated teachers to help us. Tom Fay, who was mine, was the best.”

Azeem Faisal, 18, achieved As across the board in biology, chemistry, maths and psychology. He is to study medicine for at least five years in Manchester before he decides which route to take.

He said: “I was very pleased with my results. I didn’t think I’d done so well with the new A-levels coming in. It was quite demoralising with our year being the guinea pigs. To get results like this with no past papers is great. I’m going to be studying medicine and I hope to take it from there. I want to work as hard as I can to be the best I can be at university.”

Robyn Waldie, 18, received As in chemistry, biology and maths, with a B in geography and an A* in her extended project about the effect of neonicotinoids in pesticides on the bee population and how it affects agriculture. She will be studying environmental science at Leeds and hopes to work in the energy or water sector.

She commented: “I was quite happy with my results and my favourite thing was my extended project. I’m looking forward to going to university. A-levels were challenging, but the college made it easier.”

Jake Naylor, 18, chose to undertake an apprenticeship after he finished his level three diploma in business, achieving two distinction stars in the diploma and a grade C in a maths A-level.  He will be working as a sales apprentice for software company, Softcat, based in Manchester.

He explained: “I did look at university courses, but I didn’t get the university vibe. I find apprenticeships more varied in their sectors if you know what you want to do and then you gain the experience. I sent off my CV, had an interview with a panel and was chosen.

“I am really happy because it is a good opportunity with room for progression and they see me as an investment because I am doing a qualification at the same time. On the 29th, I will be doing a three-week training programme in Marlow.”

Jack Powell, 18, completed a BTEC in business, achieving a distinction star and a distinction, plus a distinction star in a BTEC diploma in applied sciences.

Extremely happy with his results, Jack is already employed, having secured a full-time job in July, working as a customer service operator at Tetrosyl’s headquarters in Rochdale centre.

He commented: “I’m really enjoying the role. I thought it would be boring but it is not. There’s so much more to it than I ever thought.”

Julian Appleyard OBE, Principal at Rochdale Sixth Form College, said: “We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our students, and to celebrate a 99% pass rate for the sixth year running is a fantastic achievement. Year on year we’re seeing more and more students heading off to Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities which is very pleasing to see.”