Guernsey students 'ecstatic' with exam results

Archie and Charlie, both 18, said all the hard work had "paid off"

Students in the Bailiwick have received their A-level and Level Three results.

The Sixth Form Centre said the overall pass rate had increased from 96% to 98.4%, while Elizabeth College said 82% of their students got A* to C grades and Blanchelande College said 61% of students had achieved the same.

Last year the overall Bailiwick A*-E and IB equivalent pass rate was 98%, slightly higher than England.

In the UK, more than 80% have got into their first choice university - an increase of 3% from 2023.

'Hang in there'

Liz Coffey, executive principal of the Secondary Schools Partnership, said the results were "pleasing".

"The majority of our students got their first choice offers at university so they're really excited today," she said.

"There's always a lovely atmosphere on results days... just a joyous time really because they're all looking forward to their futures."

Ms Coffey said results over recent years had been "very unpredictable" but they were now "more settled".

"At the end of the day it's a different group of students and a different group of circumstances so the results are slightly different," she said.

"For those students who may not have got a particular result they wanted, or overall they haven't done as they've expected... things have a way of working out, so hang in there."

Sam Jones is off to Manchester University to study Geography

Sam Jones, 18, was "ecstatic" with his results and said he had proved his teacher wrong.

"I'm off up to Manchester, living five minutes from the curry mile, going to do some Geography - cannot wait," he said.

Archie and Charlie, both 18, said it was "a big wash of relief" to get the results they wanted.

"Tears of joy, it felt really good," Archie said.

Charlie added: "All of the hard work has paid off."

Delphine, 17, was "really happy" with her three Bs.

"I was feeling so nervous and so worried about what was going to be inside the envelope... I'm really excited to study sport and exercise," she said.

Asia, 18, said she was happy with her results and she had a job lined up in Guernsey.

Poppy and Freya, both 18, said they were very nervous to collect their results

Poppy, 18, said she was off to Cardiff University to study social sciences.

She said she felt "very relieved that finally I know where I'm going to go, what my grades are and I can just be happy".

Freya, 18, will be studying musical theatre in Surrey.

"It seems so worth it now, all of the stress is gone and now we can celebrate," she said.

Daniele Harford-Fox said results day was "a privilege" for teachers

Daniele Harford-Fox, headteacher at Ladies' College, said it was an amazing moment watching the students "bloom".

"You spend so long as a teacher seeing these girls come in at age 11, with bags bigger than their head, and then they grow into these young women," she said.

"At this moment they bloom out into the world to so many different pathways... this is the privilege of being a teacher."

Deputy Nick Dyson said it had been "really exciting" seeing students receive their results.

"The balance between having students go off to university, some take a gap year, some are staying in Guernsey so we're really, really proud that some of our students are off to the workplace," he said.

'Mixed emotions'

Mike Elward, acting principal at Blanchelande College, said he was "extremely proud of the students' success and pleased with this year’s A-level results which demonstrate the hard work and commitment of students and teachers alike and the support of parents".

Careers Guernsey said advisers would be providing support "over the next few weeks" to support students.

Sarah Stonebridge, head of the service, said receiving results was "a time of such mixed emotions".

"It is helpful for students to talk through all of their options with a qualified careers adviser before making any decisions, particularly if they are worried that their plans may have to change," she said.