Cardiff’s A-Level Pass Rate Is On The Up

A-level results released today show an increase in the overall pass rate for Cardiff as a well as a significant increase in the number of A* to C grades. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Based on provisional results, the overall pass rate for 2016, i.e. entries resulting in A* to E grades, now stands at 98.2 percent, compared with the Welsh average of 97.3 percent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For entries graded A* to C, Cardiff has broken through the 80 percent mark, currently standing at 80.3 percent – last year it was 78.4 percent. The 2016 Welsh average is 73.8 percent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The percentage of A* to A grades is slightly down on last year at 28.1 percent. This remains above the Welsh average which has dropped to 22.7 percent and the English average which has also fallen to 25.8 percent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “Well done to all of the students for putting in so much hard work and effort over the last two years in order to achieve their A-level results today. I also want to recognise the dedication of all the staff involved in helping and supporting the students in order for them to succeed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Cardiff’s overall performance at A-level has been consistently high over the past few years, comparing extremely favourably with the Wales and England averages. This year is no different and clearly demonstrates our continued commitment to providing high quality education for all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I wish everyone who received their results today all the very best as they go on to university, training or employment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some of the Cardiff success stories ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Record breaking results at Cardiff High School this year: over 48% of all grades A* to A and 87% A* to C. Thomas Vinestock achieved an amazing 6 A* or A grades. Another five students Joseff Davies, Aiden Bell, Catherine Morris, Eleri Williams & Darren Luu all achieved 5 A* or A grades and a total of 33 students achieved at least 4 A* or A grades. Four Cardiff High students, Huw Davies, Catherine Morris, Thomas Vinestock and Daniel Wainwright have all secured Oxbridge places.
• At Ysgol Glantaf, Joseff Reed had 2 A*s in German and Welsh and an A in History. He’s looking forward to reading German and Philosophy at Oxford. Nia Williams will read Law at Oxford having secured an A* in Welsh and A’s in History and Mathematics.
• Best ever results at Bishop of Llandaff with 63% of all grades at A* to B and 86% of grades at A* to C. The overall pass rate is 99% with more than a quarter of grades at A* to A. Rebecca Conybeare achieved a remarkable 5A*s and intends to read mathematics at Warwick University. Cameron Harvey’s 3A*s and 2As means that he’s heading to Imperial College to read Aeronautical Engineering. Lucy Wilkinson, having achieved an A* and 3 A’s, will study history at Cardiff and Joshua Ludlow who achieved the same grades, will follow Religion and Theological studies at Cardiff university.
• Ysgol Plasmawr is celebrating 43% A* to A, 91% A* to C and a clean sweep of 100% for A* to E.
• An outstanding set of A-level results for Radyr Comprehensive: 47% A* to A, 67% A* to B, 86% A* to C, 94% A* to D, 99% A* to E
• At Fitzalan, where over 96% of pupils have achieved 2 or more A* to E grades and 71% achieved A* to C, Jack Cicero secured 3 A*s in Maths, Further Maths and Physics and will stay at the school for a further year supporting pupils in the maths department, while he makes his decision about university pathway. Raihan Azad also completed his Maths A Level in one year, gaining an A* in the process and will now study Chemistry at Bristol University
• Cathays High has had best ever A Level results, with all pupils with offers getting into the university of their choice. In particular Ali Tariq achieved A* in Mathematics and Biology, an A in Chemistry and a distinction * in his Welsh Baccalaureate qualification and has a place at Cardiff University reading Mathematics.
• Out of the total A-level grades awarded at the Michaelston and Glyn Derw Federation, 75% of students achieved A* to C, and 100% achieved A* to E. On top of that all of the students passed their Welsh Baccalaureate.

All results are provisional at the time of writing. Some individual school percentages include the Welsh Baccalaureate while others have reported that separately. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​