RECORDS were broken as Ashton Sixth Form College’s students gleefully collected their exam results.
Some 986 A*, A, Distinction, and Distinction* grades were earned after two years of hard work at the Darnton Road establishment.
And its XL Academy for high achievers paid off with a high number confirmed offers to Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Former Droylsden Academy pupil Diya Mistry is one student who has received her place at St Catherine’s College, Oxford to study biology.
She said: “The support I received from teachers, pushing me to do summer schools and online courses gave me such a good insight into life at Oxford and Cambridge.
“This led me to put in an application and I think this preparation was a lot of the reason I got my offer!
“I will really miss my teachers and my time at Ashton.”
Noah Cooke, who was part of the XL Academy and studied Maths, Physics, Computer Science, Further Maths and Extended Project Qualification, gained an incredible 4 A*s and an A.
After gaining brilliant grades, the kid from Carrbrook will now progress to Durham University to study Physics.
He said: “I’m really happy with my results, you put so much effort in and it’s really nerve-wracking waiting to see if you’ve done as well as you hoped.
“Ashton has really helped me to achieve these results. I’m not sure I could have gone to a better college.
“The support has been so good and the people are amazing!”
38 courses at Ashton Sixth Form College achieved a perfect 100 per cent pass rate. A-Level students excelled, with an impressive 98 per cent rate, with half of all grades awarded at A*-B and three-quarters at A*-C.
BTEC results this year also set new records for the college, with 98 per cent of students on full-time vocational courses achieving at least a Merit and an unprecedented 85 per cent at least one Distinction.
Of the 310 students who took smaller-sized BTEC courses alongside their A-Levels, 71 per cent were rewarded with a top grade of Distinction or Distinction*.
Technical course students also achieved remarkable results, with more than 80 per cent earning the highest grades of A* and A.
Evie Hurst achieved an amazing triple Distinction* in Sports Coaching and Development and will now progress on to University Campus of Football Business.
She said: “I’m so happy with my results and I can’t thank the college enough for their help and support in preparing me for my next steps.”
The college’s inaugural T-Level cohorts in Education and Health had a fantastic start, boasting a 100 per cent pass rate, with 88 per cent achieving Distinction or Merit, setting a high standard for future students.
And one in four students leave with more than the three A-Level equivalents after pursuing additional qualifications such as Core Maths, Further Maths, and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Centre Principal Lisa Richards said: “What a fantastic set of achievements for the class of 2024.
“Our students have excelled themselves across all qualification types with high grade achievement at its highest since the return to examinations post-pandemic.
“I am very proud of all our students and am so delighted that their hard work and focus has been justly rewarded.
“Our leavers have been a superb cohort, participating in a wide range of enrichment and leadership activities over the past two years.
“Their experiences along with the prestigious qualifications they have now achieved, will enable them to progress with confidence to their chosen next steps, be that university, apprenticeship or employment.
“I would like to thank the wonderful teaching and support staff at ASFC for their high standards, professionalism, care and dedication.
“They play a significant part in the success of our students. Thank you also to parents and carers for working in partnership with us – your son/daughter could not achieve these outcomes without you!
“Back to the most important people though. Class of 2024 – thank you for your vibrancy, commitment and contribution to ASFC.
“Well done on your significant achievements and all the very best in your future life and career.”