There was a 99 per cent pass rate at A*-E for students at The Thomas Alleyne Academy in Stevenage, in the first year of a new partnership.

The Comet: Students Joshua Burge, Liam Devenish, Georgia Burrow, Adam Pomfrett, Taylor Will and Joseph MacNamara at The Thomas Alleyne AcademyStudents Joshua Burge, Liam Devenish, Georgia Burrow, Adam Pomfrett, Taylor Will and Joseph MacNamara at The Thomas Alleyne Academy (Image: Archant)

The number of A*-As doubled to 20 per cent compared to last year, with grades at A*-B rising from 40 per cent to 50 per cent this year.

There was also an improvement at A*-C, which accounted for 70 per cent of all grades.

Traditional national curriculum subjects such as English and history have been blended with a range of new subjects this year such as anthropology, communications and psychology.

Executive principal Mark Lewis said: “We are delighted with the success achieved by our A2 students. We are also pleased with the impressive performances of a number of students in our new AS consortium with the Da Vinci Studio School of Science and Engineering and North Hertfordshire College. These results show that our innovative curriculum partnership provides an excellent opportunity for post-16 students in our community.”

The Comet: Students Joshua Burge, Liam Devenish, Georgia Burrow, Adam Pomfrett, Taylor Will and Joseph MacNamara at The Thomas Alleyne AcademyStudents Joshua Burge, Liam Devenish, Georgia Burrow, Adam Pomfrett, Taylor Will and Joseph MacNamara at The Thomas Alleyne Academy (Image: Archant)

Julie Lewis, the director of post 16 education, added: “We are extremely proud of all of our post 16 students who have worked very hard to achieve success. The dedication of our staff supporting and teaching students has certainly paid off this year, with improving success at AS level across a wider range of subjects.”

The vast majority of students will go onto their first choice of university, including star performer Joshua Burge who will be studying ecology and conservation biology at the University of Sheffield after getting two A*s, an A and a B.

The 18-year-old, who lives in Vardon Road, said: “I am very pleased with the outcome, it’s the result of a lot of hard work and is also a credit to the effort put in by my teachers who put in a lot of extra hours and who have such a great personal approach.”

Other high achievers include Antonio Sergiou with AAAC, head girl Esme Barington who secured AABB and Sarah Brown with ABBC.

The school also praised Sophie Manarin for her ABBD, Jack Leeson who recorded three Bs and Callum Innes who restarted his exams and achieved BCCD.

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