A-level results celebrated as Shropshire students recognised for dedication

Shropshire’s A-level students have been celebrating their results as schools across the county commend their dedication.

From early on Thursday (August 13) young people throughout Shropshire collected their results, setting them on the next steps to higher education, vocational courses, a gap year, or into the world of work.

More than 700 Telford College students received their exam results at the Wellington campus, with the college reporting a 4.2 per cent increase in the number of A* to B grades at A-level.

The number of A* to C grades students achieved also went up, with more subjects achieving a 100 per cent pass rate than in previous years.

Staff said the number of distinctions achieved in vocational courses, both BTEC and T-levels, also saw a strong increase with stand-out results in T-Level accounting and digital production, design and development.

College principal and CEO Lawrence Wood said: “What we’ve seen this year, with this cohort, is an improvement in the number of higher grades and a general improvement all round.

“All the students, whether they’re here for A-levels, T-levels or BTEC have something to celebrate today.”

Bertie Witcomb, 18, from Telford, was celebrating at Telford College this morning after opening his results to find A*, A, B- a strong set of grades that will help launch a lifelong dream.

Bertie is heading to Leading Edge, a flight school in Oxford, where he hopes to train as a commercial pilot.

“My grandad always wanted to be a pilot and so did my dad,” he said.

“I’ve been flying little Cessnas since I was young - they were taking me up - and I’ve been in the Air Cadets as well, so it’s been a dream for a long time.”

Meanwhile 18‑year‑old Caitlyn Hilton‑Stuttleworth, from Telford, was also celebrating after achieving A*, B, D - grades that have earned her a place at Keele University to study Law with Professional Legal Practice.

Caitlyn says the pressure was intense in the run‑up to exams: “They’ve halved the number of students so the demand for grades was a lot higher. I found out just before the exams that I would need an A* minimum to get the UCAS points to go - so the pressure was on.”

Her ambition to work in criminal justice goes back to junior school, and she credits staff at Telford College for helping her stay on track: “I struggled with a few bits at the end of my first year but the staff really helped me and pushed me in the right direction and gave me as much support as I needed.”

Another Telford College student, 18‑year‑old Samantha Nyamundandara, was all smiles after earning a Merit in her Health T‑level.

“I’ve just called my mum and she’s very happy,” she said.

Samantha already has a job offer lined up and plans to take a gap year to gain experience before heading to university.

Her goal is to become a radiographer, a career she discovered through her T‑level course.

She said: “I had no idea it was an option before T‑levels, but through my course I had the opportunity to learn about different careers. I saw radiology, did some research and thought ‘yeah, that’s what I want to do’.”

Meanwhile schools across the county commended their students for their efforts.

Shrewsbury College also celebrated strong results, with more than 1,300 students completing their qualifications. A‑Level outcomes included a 99 per cent pass rate, 51 per cent A/A/B grades, and 68 students achieving AAA or higher.

T-Level learners achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, well above the 93 per cent national average, while vocational students also excelled, with over 100 earning top DDD* grades.

Principal James Staniforth praised students’ “hard work, determination and commitment,” noting that around 800 learners will now progress to university, apprenticeships or professional roles.

Marches Academy Trust schools (Idsall in Shifnal, Sir John Talbot’s in Whitchurch, The Marches in Oswestry, and The Grove in Market Drayton) all hailed the hard work from pupils.

Idsall’s head teacher Michelle King said: “These achievements reflect the hard work, determination and resilience of our students, supported by the dedication of our staff and the unwavering support of families.

“We are particularly proud of the wide range of destinations our students are progressing to, including highly regarded universities, degree apprenticeships and employment opportunities. Their success is the result of years of commitment and ambition, and we wish them every success as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”

The school highlighted a number of students for their success including Zak Jones, who achieved two As and a B*, and will progress after a gap year to Durham University to study Politics and International Relations.

Issac Nagra meanwhile earned three As, while Aimee Powell achieved Distinction, B and A* and will be joining the University of Liverpool to study Primary Education with Teacher status.

Mya Sahota secured A, B and Distinction and will study Psychology at Manchester University, Sannan Muhammed, who achieved three Distinctions is progressing to Nottingham Trent University to study Construction Management, and Abi Jones, who secured a B, and two Cs will be studying Law at Manchester.

Grove headteacher Mitch Allsopp said: "We are proud of everything they have accomplished and grateful to the staff, families and friends who have supported them along the way.”

Notable achievements highlighted by the school included Niamh Lynch for her results in English Literature, Sociology, Psychology and EPQ, Lara Shotton for her results in English Literature, Geography, History and EPQ, Amy Browne for her results in Business Studies, Geography, Psychology and EPQ, and Cecily Turner for her results in Health and Social Care, Film studies, Photography and EPQ.

The school added: “Special mention needs to be given to Lara who achieved A* (English Lit) A* (Geography) A (History) A* (EPQ) and Niamh who achieved A* (English Lit) A* (Sociology) A (Psychology) and A*(EPQ).”

Sir John Talbot’s headteacher Tim Stonall said: “We are incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished and wish them every success for the future.”

The school has highlighted the outstanding results achieved by some of its students, including Callum Nicolson who secured three A*s and will now go on to study biological sciences at Loughborough University.

Elektra Hughes earned two A*s and an A. She will now go on to study French and English literature at The University of Edinburgh.

Mehtab Chatha secured three As and a B, and will now study artificial intelligence and computer science at The University of Birmingham.

Josh Reeves earned one A and two Bs, and will now go on to the University of Liverpool to study aerospace engineering.

Marches headteacher Sally Wilmot said: “Results Day is always one of my favourite days of the school year because it is about people, not just grades.

“Behind every set of results is a story of hard work, resilience and ambition. We have seen these young people develop into confident, capable individuals who are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead of them. We could not be prouder of all they have achieved.”

The school highlighted a number of its achievers such as Poppy Davies who secured two A*s and two As, and will go on to study history at Oxford University.

Eren Drury also secured to A*s and two As and is set to study computer science at the University of Durham.

Isla Rothera earned three A*s and will study maths and physics at the University of Manchester, while Evie Long secured one A, two Bs and a C, and will now study mental health nursing at Liverpool.

Liam Ford earned one A and two Bs and will go on to study marine biology at the University of Plymouth.

At Newport Girls’ High School 43 per cent of all grades were A* to A, and 71 per cent at A* to B.

A staggering 20 per cent of students also achieved a full set of top grades.

Headteacher Adam Jones said: “We are delighted for our students and immensely proud of everything they have achieved. These results reflect not only academic excellence, but also the determination, resilience and character that this year group has demonstrated throughout their time with us.”

Ellesmere College meanwhile is celebrating a 97 per cent pass rate from its students at A-level.

It said that 58 per cent of grades achieved were in the top bands of A*/A/B and many students have secured places at top universities.

Jonathan Shaw, head of Ellesmere College, said: “As a year group our departing Year 13s have led the school superbly, demonstrating an impressive work ethic whilst fully participating in all that Ellesmere has to offer. Above all, they are a fantastic cohort of pupils who will leave Ellesmere with the character, confidence and sense of responsibility to make a difference wherever they go next.”

Oswestry School pupils also celebrated a stellar set of results at A-level this year with more than 10 per cent of all grades at A*, the highest figure at the school since 2022.

Local student Wang Qi, who has been at Oswestry since 2017 when she joined the Prep School, achieved a clean sweep of four A* grades in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Computer Science while Upper Sixth Form Ukrainian boarder Mykola Mogilnikov was rewarded for all his hard work with straight A* grades in Maths, Biology and Chemistry.

Ysgol Llanfyllin in Mid Wales celebrated an outstanding year of A Level, AS Level and vocational qualification results.

Staff said 13 of their students achieved all A*-A grades or equivalent - James Bass, Carys Blowers, Ffion Davies, Max Dean, Bethan Docherty, Manon Ellis-Jones, Soffia Jones, Dylan Marsden-Mosebury, Charlie Owen, Annabel Quance, Owen Roberts, Glesni Woodman and Sion Woodman.

Wrekin College said it is celebrating its strongest set of results in more than a decade, with more than 31 per cent of grades achieved by its Upper Sixth students at A* or A.

Outstanding individual performances included seven students achieving either an A* or A grade in every subject they studied.

Adcote School said one in five Year 13 grades achieved the highest A* mark.

More than half of all grades were A*/A, while 78 per cent were A*-B and 93 per cent achieved A*-C.

STEM subjects performed particularly strongly, including 100 per cent A*/A in Physics, while every EPQ student achieved an A*/A.

At Moreton Hall 56 per cent of grades were awarded at A* or A - with 37 per cent hitting the very top grade.

Haberdashers’ Adams celebrated a 98 per cent A‑level pass rate today, with 176 Upper Sixth students completing their courses.

A total of 66 per cent of grades were awarded at A* to B, and 34 per cent at A* to A, marking another strong year for the school.

Shrewsbury High School sixth formers were celebrating an “exceptional” set of results, with a quarter of the year group achieving straight As.

Notable mentions included Elsie Anton-Stephens who secured four A*s and a place at the University of York to read Computer Science, and Martha Cawood also takes up Computer Science (Industrial) at Leeds with her straight-A grades.

Jessica Watkinson is one of two students choosing to study Veterinary Science as she heads to the University of Liverpool having achieved A*A*A with Eve Horner heading to University of Bristol with A*AA. Joining Eve at Bristol is Lettie O’Hara who will study Film and Modern Languages having achieved AAB.

Martha Hearne and Adela Home have celebrated A*A*A, with Adela heading to Edinburgh University to read Mechanical Engineering, and Martha applying to study Engineering in 2027.

With straight As in History, Biology and English, Emily Forster will read Anthropology at Durham University.

Having joined the school into the Sixth Form, Emily Silcox heads to Exeter to study Environmental Science having achieved three A grades while Amelia Chaplin also heads to Exeter with AAB to read Exercise and Sport Sciences.

Hanin Tabir will read Maths at Manchester University with her A*AAB and Martha Harford achieved AAB and will read Pharmacy at Newcastle University, while twin sister Mary heads to Liverpool Hope University to read Psychology.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, education, employment and skills, commended the borough’s young people for their hard work.

She said: "Today is a moment to recognise the dedication and determination shown by young people across Telford and Wrekin.

“Achieving qualifications, whether through academic study or vocational learning, is a significant accomplishment and one they should be extremely proud of.

"As students look ahead to university, apprenticeships, further training or the world of work, we wish them every success and encourage them to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.”