A-level students have been collecting their A-level results across Bedford Borough this morning with many achieving the grades needed to take their chosen next steps in education.
Nationally the proportion of top A-level grades is down on 2022 but still remains above pre-pandemic levels. A or A* grades is 27.2%, which is down from a peak of 44.8% during the pandemic
Across the UK, UCAS say that 79% of those receiving results gained a place at their first-choice university.
Read all the results from across Bedford Borough below.
What to do if you don’t get the results you were hoping for
It’s easier said than done, but first of all try not to worry. You have multiple options and Plan B, C or even D may even turn our to be the best route.
UCAS give the following advice:
The first thing you should do is speak to your teacher or adviser, who will be able to help you explore these options and understand your next steps. Then:
- Speak to the university or college: They may be flexible, especially if you only narrowly missed your offer
- Appeal your grade: You’ll need to discuss this with your school or college – but it shouldn’t stop you from researching opportunities in clearing
- Apply through clearing: If you find yourself in clearing this year, you can use the ‘View matches’ button in your application to see courses that are personally matched you to. Or, if you want to apply for something different, you can use our search tool to browse thousands of courses available in clearing.
- Explore apprenticeships: Earn a salary while you study and have your course fees paid by your employer and the Government. Visit the UCAS apprenticeship hub to find out more and look for vacancies
- Consider your alternative options: Like taking a gap year or going straight into the world of work. We’ve got lots of information about the different options available to you
Bedford Borough results
Kempston Academy
Kempston Academy says they’re delighted with their student’s successes after those who applied for a place at university all received their first choices.
Individual success stories include Mya Banghar, who earned a distinction in Media and also in Performing Arts.
Callum Donnelly also secured great results as he received a B in Biology, C in Chemistry and a C in Psychology.
Eva Denton obtained fantastic grades as she got a Distinction in Business and Performing Arts and a Merit in Media.
Karen Bateman, Headteacher at Kempston Academy said: “I am thrilled to witness the excellent achievements of our A-Level students. Their dedication and resilience over the last two years study and learning have shone through, which has ultimately reflected on their superb results.”
Adrian Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Chiltern Learning Trust added: “As a new school to the Chiltern Learning Trust, I am absolutely delighted that Kempston Academy has achieved a great set of results. I’d like to thank all the staff, students and parents for their hard work and commitment.”
Other subjects that performed well included Art, Health and Social Care and Performing Arts, all averaging a Distinction grade.
Bedford School
Bedford School is celebrating what they’ve called “another excellent set of results” today, leading to a range of post-school university (and other) destinations and courses, the sheer breadth of which they have said is a “highlight” this year.
Places have been taken up for Sports Science, Creative Music Technology, Ethics, Value and Philosophy, Marine Biology, Media and Communications, Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources, Music, Multimedia and Electronics, Zoology, Real Estate and Optometry.
These courses were chosen alongside “the more staple diets for Bedfordians” who will also take up a variety of courses in Medicine (six boys will go on to medical school this year), Business, Economics, Engineering, Accounting, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Architecture and Physics.
Top university destinations for Bedford School boys include Oxford, LSE, Edinburgh, Bristol, Warwick, York, Imperial, Durham, UCL, KCL, Leeds and Loughborough.
The ‘boys’ themselves have expressed their excitement at their next steps.
School leaver Luca Moretto secures his first-choice destination, Lincoln College (Oxford University) which will see him read Ancient and Modern History.
He gained an A* and four As in English, History, Latin, Maths and his Extended Project Qualification and said: “The school played a big part in helping me prepare for the Oxford entrance exams.
“I have undertaken a lot of practice interviews and tests with Mr Ramsden, which have been a massive help.”
James Wootton-Evans achieved three As and an A in Politics, Business, Geography and his Extended Project Qualification, securing a place at Exeter University to study International Relations.
James said he was absolutely “over the moon” with his results. “I never thought I’d get anywhere near three As and so I’m very happy indeed – the hard work paid off, ” he said.
“My biggest challenge has been in writing essays and trying to write enough in the short amount of time given. Because I have dyslexia, it takes me longer to write but the school have been brilliant in giving me extra support and helping me find different techniques to use.
Varun Nathan is one of six Bedford School boys who will study medicine and after waking up to three As in Biology, Chemistry and Computer Science and has secured a place at Birmingham University.
Varun was hugely relieved to see his results after seeing news reports that fewer A and A results have been awarded nationally.
Speaking about the support he received from the school, Varun said: “Some of the teachers helped me with the one-to-one interviews, giving me the chance to practise over and over.”
Anthony Muffoletto will also study medicine this year after achieving an A* and two As in Italian, Biology and Chemistry, which gained him a place to read Medicine and Surgery at Queen Mary University of London.
Anthony, who is also a talented rugby player playing in the 1st XV and on the Federal Centre of Milan’s young rugby talent programme, has balanced his love of the game with his studies well and said: “It wasn’t easy, but the work has paid off.”
Anthony’s biggest challenge was not only to achieve the A-Level grades he needed but also to overcome the long and difficult process of selection for medical school.
“It was only due to the work and push by Bedford School staff that I ended up doing so well,” he said. “My teachers were very focussed and deeply interested in their subjects which helped me get my head around the detail.”
Speaking of his pride at this year’s A-Level results, head master at the school, James Hodgson, said: “I congratulate sincerely the boys for doing so brilliantly; they have not had an easy few years at Senior School, yet they have embraced all that we have to offer, inside and outside the classroom, to make the very most of their opportunities.
“They leave (and leave us) with great memories, good friends, strong values and the confidence to bring their very best to the world around them. I wish them all well”.
Sharnbrook Academy
Sharnbrook Academy says they’re “once again celebrating the fantastic results achieved by their sixth form students in their A-level examinations.”
This is the first set of formal examinations that this year has taken due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on GCSE examinations two years ago.
Despite the disruption to their education and the lasting effects of the pandemic, students at Sharnbrook have performed extremely well in the first and final examinations of their school life, with most students achieving the grades needed to attend their first choice destination.
The Director of Sixth Form, Daniel Baxby, said: “We are extremely pleased and proud of the results our students have achieved. The determination they have shown to meet the challenges of the last two years has been rightly rewarded.
“We have students going to a range of destinations including Oxbridge, and other universities across the UK and abroad. We also have a number of students who have secured prestigious graduate-level apprenticeship opportunities through our extensive regional, national and international partnerships.”
Amongst the outstanding results across the year group, exceptional individual performances included:
- Lauren Gill achieved three A* grades and is now heading to the University of Oxford to study medicine
- Isabella Whetstone achieved three A* grades and is going to the University of Oxford to study chemistry
- Olivia Kirchin achieved three A* grades and is going to study economics at the University of Bath
- Samuel Walter achieved three A* grades and one A grade and is off to the University of Durham to study mathematics
- Georgia Wilson achieved two A* grades and one A grade and is going to the University of Manchester to study accounting
- Violette Sutton achieved one A* grade and two A grades and is going to study architecture at the University of Cambridge
- Lauren Roberts achieved two A* grades and one A grade and is going to study law at the University of Leeds
- Molly Lugsden achieved two A* grades and one A grade and is going to study fine art at Bedford College
- Joshua Broomhead achieved one A* grade and four A grades and is going to study natural sciences
Clare Raku, Principal at Sharnbrook Academy added, “On behalf of all staff at Sharnbrook Academy, we wish our students the very best for the future.
“We are immensely proud of our sixth formers, who have not just achieved superb results, but have shown incredible commitment and character throughout their time with us.”
Sharnbrook Academy is part of the Meridian Trust, Richard Spencer, Executive Principal there also spoke of his pride upon hearing the results. “Congratulations to all of the students securing results today.
“Special congratulations to their families who will have provided them with so much support over recent years.”
The school has also partnered with Zero Gravity, a social mobility tech platform which pairs students from low-opportunity backgrounds with current university mentors.
This gives them access to vital support and guidance as they finalise their university plans.
Bedford Sixth Form
Students’ overall pass rate was up 2% this year with 95% achieved, however there was a 100% pass rate recorded for 15 subjects.
- Textiles
- Fine Art
- Graphics
- Photography
- Classical Civilisation
- Computer Science
- Dance
- English Language
- Film Studies
- Further Maths
- German
- Italian
- Media Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
A total number of 937 entries were made across a wide range of subjects at the 16+ exclusive age range establishment in Bromham Road.
Among those celebrating today is Bedfordian Astrid Westlake (pictured) who is off to Cambridge University to study Human, Social and Political Sciences.
William Bennett, 18, who is originally from South Africa, passed History, Sociology and Classics to get into Reading to study Classical Museum Studies.
Other successes included, Zoebella Hollingsworth who is going to study Forensic Science at De Montfort Leicester. Marko Turićanin, who is off to Leicester to study computer science, and Georgia Cornwall who achieved three A stars and will study English at Warwick University.
Joining the event was long-standing Sociology lecturer Pauline Kendall who is pictured with some of her students who are all off to the university of their choice.
Bedford Greenacre Independent School
Students at Bedford Greenacre Independent School (BGI) achieved a 98% pass rate, with all of the students offered a place to study at University next year.
In a statement to the Bedford Independent, head of sixth Richard Woodward said: “Firstly, as a sixth form team, we would like to pay tribute to the diligence and determination of our sixth form students.
“The reward for their endeavours is a set of incredibly satisfying results which give our young people the attributes and skills which will help them move on to the next phase of their lives.
“We hope that they will reflect on their sixth-form studies as a critical phase in their journey through life; not just academically but also socially. We are immensely proud of the smart, kind, mature and thoughtful young people that they have become.
“It is these qualities, in conjunction with their qualifications, which will help them to progress and ultimately succeed in the future.”
A spokesperson for the school added: “Sixth form remains a vital stage in a young person’s development.
“Here at BGI, we will strive to keep supporting our students in any way that we can and in so doing they will be well prepared to face an increasingly uncertain world. Well done everybody and all the very best for the future.”
This is a live update and may change as more information becomes available.
