THE college with the most university applicants in the region is also celebrating the success of students choosing apprenticeships.
More than 500 A-level candidates at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, which has many students from the Downend area, applied to university this year, and the college says the majority will be taking up places at their first-choice institution.
St Brendan’s is the biggest education provider exclusively for students aged 16 to 19, with around 1,800 students drawn from across the region, including many from the Downend area.
Leaders at the college in Brislington say A-level students achieved a pass rate of 97.6%, including 796 “high-grade” passes.
Students sitting Level 3 BTEC and Applied General vocational courses achieved a combined total of 299 grades at either Distinction or Distinction*, although the college has not said what percentage of grades this represents.
The college says 191 students achieved high grades in all subjects they studied.
They include one student who will study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, after a gap year, after achieving an A* and two A grades in graphic communications, history and physics respectively, plus an A* Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Another student is heading to Durham University to study theology after achieving three Bs, while another is set to study business management at Bristol University.
The college says it has seen “significant success” in higher and degree apprenticeship applications, with students have securing opportunities with employers including finance firms KPMG and Deloitte, lawyers Osborne Clarke and aircraft builder Airbus.
Principal Marian Curran said: “I could not be prouder of our students.
“These results reflect their resilience, ambition and sheer hard work, and they have earned every grade.
“But a results day at St Brendan’s is about far more than numbers – it is about the confident, thoughtful and well-rounded young people who leave us ready for whatever comes next.
“My thanks go to our dedicated staff, whose commitment makes days like this possible, and to the families who have supported these young people every step of the way.
“The success we celebrate today belongs to our whole college community.
“With the largest A Level cohort in the region, the College is celebrating the achievements of a diverse and ambitious group of students as they take their next steps towards university, degree apprenticeships and rewarding careers.”