ANDOVER College students are jumping for joy after they achieved an 100% A-level pass rate.

Almost half of the students gained A*-B grades at 46% of the sixth form, and a further 78% achieved A*-Cs when they received their results yesterday (Thursday).

This is the first year of exams under a new, believed to be tougher, format so students and teachers alike were delighted to secure the perfect rate.

Principal Tim Jackson said: “We are naturally delighted to once again achieve a flawless 100% pass rate which saw some great stories of personal achievement.

“Not only do our students gain outstanding results, they become deep learners focused with critical thinking and analytical skills, which prepares them for advanced study at university and their future careers.”

“This performance is particularly strong as this is the first year of linear A-levels which are solely assessed on end-of-year exams and therefore designed to be more challenging.”

Andover College is ranked in the top 5% in the UK for value-added at A-level, and its sixth-formers can now look forward to starting degrees after many clinched places at top universities.

Student Liming Yang achieved an A* maths, and As in biology, chemistry and physics securing his place on the University of Exeter’s medicine programme.

Liming said: “The individual support at Andover College has been invaluable.

“I moved to the UK at 16 not speaking a word of English and the teachers have provided so much support, they are really interesting, the lessons are never dull, a total joy in fact.”

Other students have bagged places at universities including Oxford, Warwick, Southampton and Falmouth.

Head of faculty for sixth form, Ben Stokes said: “We have consolidated our position as an outstanding provider for A Levels. Not only were students able to build on last year’s superb achievements but also able to do this in light of significant A Level reforms, which posed challenges for students by the depth and breadth of a new curriculum.

“We’re very proud of our students’ hard work and commitment and our teaching team’s ability to help develop the skills for students to excel individually and produce standout results above the national average.”

For further information on the range of both A Level and vocational courses available at Andover College, either visit www.andover.ac.uk or call 01264 360000.