THE number of students at North Hertfordshire College passing with top A* and A grades has doubled.

In a very successful year for the college, there were also 20 per cent more A*-B grades, and an overall pass rate (A*-E) of 98 per cent.

In maths, biology, English literature, chemistry, physics, law, media studies and sociology there was a 100 per cent pass rate.

Acting principal Signe Sutherland said: “I have the greatest admiration for our students and their teachers. I warmly congratulate students and staff on these outstanding results.

“We have seen an increase in both A-level and AS-level grades for the fourth year running. Outcomes for our highly vocational diploma programmes were also exceptionally high this year.

“These results reflect the ethos at the college, where the individual talents of each student are nurtured, enabling them to reach their full potential.”

After achieving a number of A* and A grades, Matthew Jackson is off to study mathematics at the University of Exeter, Rebecca Cotton will be reading psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, and Zoe Cook is to study English at the University of Brighton.

Tasha Cable, 18, from Stevenage, got three As and an A* in law, history, psychology and an extended project qualification. She is off to the University of Birmingham to study law.

She said: “I got three A grades in my AS-levels last year but this year was a lot harder and I wasn’t sure if I would still be able to maintain the As. I did, and when I saw the grades I was so shocked. I got exactly the grades that I needed.”

Another success story was 21-year-old Laurie Ticker, who decided to go back into education after working as a labourer in the construction industry.

He got ABC in sociology, history and English literature respectively and is off to study sociology at Anglia Ruskin University.

“I was expecting C grades and when I saw the A, I was speechless,” he said.

“There were two exams, I thought I’d done well in one, but I thought the other one went really badly but clearly I’d done a lot better than I thought.”

Angela McLean, head of curriculum for A-levels, commended all students for their hard work.

She said: “We are delighted and very proud that so many of our students have secured a place at their first choice of university.

“Most students have achieved at least one grade above their minimum expected grade which is a tribute to the hard work put in by them and their teachers and they are all to be wholeheartedly congratulated.

“As well as ensuring that our students’ academic performance is maximised, we also make certain that we prepare our students for a rapidly and radically changing world in which additional skills are required and add real value to an organisation or a university application.”