Success for Portsmouth College as students bring A-level grades back up to standard

DELIGHTED students and teachers are celebrating after bringing A-level grades back up to standard.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Portsmouth College has been praised for getting a 97 per cent pass rate, with 49 per cent of students with high grades (A*-B). Those results are up four and one per cent respectively.

Among the high achievers was maths fanatic Tom Blain, 18, from Cosham, who was delighted with an A* in maths, and two As in further maths and computer science.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tom was home schooled by tutors between Year 9 and Year 11 after leaving Portsmouth Grammar School and only returned to the classroom for college.

Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. 

Pictured is: Sabine Newman, 18, who got three As and Libby Gissing, 18, who got two As and one A*.

Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-5484)Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. 

Pictured is: Sabine Newman, 18, who got three As and Libby Gissing, 18, who got two As and one A*.

Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-5484)
Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. Pictured is: Sabine Newman, 18, who got three As and Libby Gissing, 18, who got two As and one A*. Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-5484)
Read More
Brainy Portsmouth College student eyes Nasa career as A-level grades open a path...

He said: ‘Weirdly enough I’m one of those people who loves maths and and wanted (to study it at university) for a long time – since I was in junior school.

‘I’m pretty good at it, and I’m not good at anything else. Luckily, it’s a course which leads to some good prospects. I find it the most fun.’

He missed out on a place at Cambridge but was delighted to have gone through the process that pushed him to improve.

Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. 

Pictured is: 17-year-old James Robinson.

Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-3500)Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. 

Pictured is: 17-year-old James Robinson.

Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-3500)
Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. Pictured is: 17-year-old James Robinson. Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-3500)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘I got so much better at maths, really pushing myself,’ he said.

Southsea-based 18-year-old Lacey Burr’s attendance in her A-level psychology classes plunged to 25 per cent due to difficult personal reasons.

But that did not stop her scoring an A grades in biology and psychology and a Distinction* in health and social. She said: ‘I’m really glad.’

Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. 

Pictured is: Tom Blain, 18,  from Portsmouth, achieved one A* and two As.

Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-5541)Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. 

Pictured is: Tom Blain, 18,  from Portsmouth, achieved one A* and two As.

Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-5541)
Students at Portsmouth College in Tangier Road, Portsmouth, collected their A-level results on Thursday, August 15. Pictured is: Tom Blain, 18, from Portsmouth, achieved one A* and two As. Picture: Sarah Standing (150819-5541)

Her mum Maria Burr, 35, added: ‘I’m very proud, she hasn’t had the easiest time at college.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Teenager James Robinson, from Baffins, swung into college before going to his insurance job in Portsmouth.

The 17-year-old, who picked up an A in politics, a B in history and C in geography, said: ‘I was a little bit nervous. Because I’m not going to university I wasn’t quite as nervous but I was a little on edge.’

James hopes to get an apprenticeship at BAE Systems.

Solicitor hopeful Sam O’Donnell, 18, said he has ‘had enough of education’ and is pursuing a law apprenticeship course.

Sam, from Baffins, was rewarded with Bs psychology and now plans a year out but already has a work placement lined up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: ‘I don’t really want to go to university because the idea of having to go through education again, I don’t want to, and it’s a lot more work.’

Principal Simon Barrable said: ‘I am extremely proud of all our Portsmouth College students for the excellent set of results they have achieved today.

‘They are a testament to all the hard work, determination, resilience and sheer talent that our students possess in abundance.’

Portsmouth College student James Baxter, 18, from Fratton, secured an A* in graphic communications, an AS in photography and digital film.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He is taking a gap year while working out which university to attend but was shocked what he got.

The South African national, the son of a postman and teacher, said: ‘I’m speechless, I wasn’t expecting that it’s a bit of a shock to me. It’s still taking a moment to sink in.’

James hopes to study graphics or illustration.

Education cabinet member at Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Suzy Horton, was at the college this morning.

Cllr Horton said: ‘For the (students) I’ve met so far it’s been good news and big congratulations to them, and their lecturers and teachers who helped with that success.’