Colleges celebrate record results

Jesuit colleges throughout Britain are celebrating academic successes in both GCSEs and A levels.

Pupils and staff at Stonyhurst achieved their best A level results ever in the college's history. 70% of this year's grades were A* - B grades, up by 10% from last year.

'We are very proud of the achievements of all our pupils and staff.  Once again our A level candidates performed well across the board, both those with the top results and those from whom more modest results were expected,' said Mr Andrew Johnson, the Headmaster.

It was a similar story at Mount St Mary's College after the school achieved record-breaking A-level results for the third year running.  A and B grades are up again to 51%, with 30% securing A* and A grades.

Leading the way were Head Boy and Head Girl James Proudfoot and Victoria Coe with one A* and two As and three As respectively.  James, 18, has already secured his place at Durham to read law and Victoria, 18, is about to embark on a gap year and confirm her intention to perhaps read medicine.

But it was at St Ignatius College in Enfield where the greatest cheers were probably heard, as their A Level and GCSE results were released.

'The results are the best in the history of the college,' said headmaster JP Morrison. 'Our results over the last few years have demonstrated significant progress and are testament to the hard work of the staff, the diligence of the students themselves and the excellent support we receive from the parents.'

In 2010 the A2 Level Grades A*-B were 48.3%, representing an increase of 3% on the college's previous highest percentage set last year.  Overall A2 Level Grades A-E were 99.1%.  This too was an increase of 0.4% on St Ignatius' previous best of 98.7%.

At GCSE the news is equally impressive.  The overall figure for those boys who achieved 5 A*-C, including English and Maths, was 68%, an increase of 5.14% over last year.  The score for 5 A*-C has improved to 83.1%.  This is an increase of 9.4% on last year's results.

'This is a significant improvement and over two years our results have increased 20%.  To have close to 100% passes at A Level is a wonderful achievement of which we can be proud,' said Mr Morrison.