An Excellent Year Of A Level Success For Bridgend County Borough Students

The standard of results at A Level has risen across Bridgend County Borough with significantly greater numbers of students gaining the highest grades this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bucking the national trend across Wales, 98.3 per cent of students in the county borough passed their A Levels, with 76.6 per cent gaining grades A* to C – up three per cent on last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The greatest improvement has been among the most able and talented students with the proportion of those gaining A* to A rising by 4.6 percentage points up to 23.8 per cent – a reversal of the trend across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend County Borough has outperformed the Welsh average in all measures: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A* – A (Bridgend: 23.8 per cent; Wales: 22.7 per cent),
A – C (Bridgend: 76.6 per cent; Wales: 73.8 per cent),
A – E (Bridgend: 98.3 per cent; Wales: 97.3 per cent) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As Education Secretary Kirsty Williams noted in her visit to Maesteg Comprehensive School on results day: “The number achieving the highest grades is encouraging. We can be proud of our pupils’ performance in Maths and the progress when it comes to the Welsh Baccalaureate.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deborah McMillan, Director of Education and Family Support at Bridgend County Borough Council, agreed: “This is particularly true across Bridgend County Borough, where significant improvements in higher grades, Maths and the Welsh Baccalaureate are all evident this year. Our focus on pupil wellbeing and high ambition for all of our learners has helped students to enjoy high success and entry to the top university courses across the UK.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Huw David, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “I would like to congratulate all of our young people on their exam success in 2016. I am thrilled to see so many achieving the highest A*-A grades. This reflects the hard work and support provided in Bridgend County Borough which has enabled local schools to improve standards at the highest level against a stable picture in Wales overall.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Schools across Bridgend County Borough are reporting significant improvements in the proportion of students gaining A* – A, with Archbishop McGrath posting an impressive 31.7 per cent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At Brynteg School in Bridgend, 84 students achieved either an A* or an A grade, and Headteacher David Jenkins said: “We are delighted with this years’ results which reflect the hard work of students and staff at Brynteg. Continuing with the tradition of excellence at Brynteg, the vast majority of our students are now looking forward to attending their first choice of university.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bryntirion Comprehensive is also enjoying an excellent set of A Level results, with a record number of students moving on to university. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cynffig Comprehensive staff and students are delighted to see their efforts rewarded with a 14.9 per cent increase in grades A* – C. Headteacher Hannah Castle said: “We are overjoyed and proud to see our A Level pupils achieving 99 per cent A* to E grades this year. Our improving results are representative of a school which prioritises securing strong partnership working. It has been a privilege to work with our A Level pupils and their families.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile, Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen Headteacher Nick Brain said: “We are really proud of the achievements of our students. They have worked incredibly hard and can now look forward to bright futures in their chosen careers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Maesteg Comprehensive School is reporting one of their best ever performances at A Level. They achieved an overall A* – E pass rate of 97 per cent, while 87 per cent of their pupils gained the highest A* – C grades. There were plenty of celebrations at Pencoed Comprehensive too, where virtually all students who applied for Higher Education places achieved the grades they needed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At Porthcawl Comprehensive School, Headteacher Andrew Slade commented that “this excellent series of results will ensure Porthcawl students have gained places at some of the best universities in the country. We are delighted to report that 23 per cent have secured places at Russell Group universities, which is well above the UK average.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd received its second set of A Level results, with 18 per cent of students gaining at least three A* or A grades. Headteacher Meurig Jones said: “We are extremely proud of our results this year and wish our students the very best as they continue to either further studies, employment or work-based training.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​