A-level results day: Bedford students celebrate as they pick up exam results

Students across the country have been picking up their A-level exam results today (Thursday).

Across the country the proportion of A or A* grades has dropped from a peak of 44.8% during the pandemic to 27.2% – but 79% of students have secured places at their first-choice university, according to UCAS. This compares to 81% in 2022 when exams were reintroduced, and 74% in 2019, the last time grading arrangements were the same.

And students celebrating their results can pick up free food at participating restaurants – including a cheeky Nandos in Bedford.

Here are the results from Bedford’s schools:

The Bedford Sixth Form:

The overall pass rate at The Bedford Sixth Form is up to 95% compared to 93% in 2022.

A total of 937 entries were made across a wide range of subjects at the 16+ exclusive age range establishment in Bromham Road – with 15 subjects getting 100% pass rates. These were: textiles, fine art, graphics, photography, classical civilisation, computer science, dance, English language, film studies, further maths, German, Italian, media studies, sociology and Spanish.

Among those celebrating was Astrid Westlake of Bedford who is off to Cambridge University to study Human, Social and Politcal Sciences; Marko Turićanin, aged 18 of Bedford who is off to Leicester to study computer science; Georgia Cornwall who got 3 A stars and is to study English at Warwick University; William Bennett, 18, of Biggleswade, via South Africa, who passed History, Sociology and Classics to get into Reading to study Classical Museum Studies; and Zoebella Hollingsworth of Dunton who is off to do a degree in Forensic Science at De Montfort Leicester.

Joining the event was long-standing Sociology lecturer Pauline Kendall who is pictured with some of her students who are all off to the university of their choice.

Biddenham International School and Sports College

Once again Biddenham students did themselves, their families and their teachers proud with super results.

High flyers included Tanvir Uddin, who achieved some outstanding results in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and EPQ getting four A*s and an A respectively.

Zulkernain Raja’s 3A*’s followed closely behind as did a selection of our other top performers: Farah Rafiq who achieved two As a B and a C; Insharrah Mahmood who received three A*s; Elisha Kaur who took home an A, two Bs and a C; Ellie Grist who received an A, two Bs and a C; and Sumayai Tasnim who earned two As a B and a C.

Principal David Bailey said: “I would wish to pay tribute to this generation of young people who have sat exams for the first time having endured all of the Covid disruption showing great determination and resilience.

"On a personal note for me my own son, Tom, got his results at Biddenham today and got his first choice offer to do Sports Management at Brighton University and now has to choose between that and a degree apprenticeship with Bedford Blues. An additional reason for me to be proud of our students and staff team today.”

Bedford School Boys

Bedford School is celebrating another excellent set of results today, leading to a spectacular range of post-school university (and other) destinations and courses – from sports science and creative music technology to zoology and optometry.

These courses were chosen alongside more traditional courses including six boys who are set to go on to medical school, business and physics.

Top university destinations for Bedford School boys include Oxford, LSE, Edinburgh, Bristol, Warwick, York, Imperial, Durham, UCL, KCL, Leeds and Loughborough.

Headmaster James Hodgson said: “I congratulate sincerely the boys for doing so brilliantly; they have not had an easy few years at Senior School, yet they have embraced all that we have to offer, inside and outside the classroom, to make the very most of their opportunities. They leave (and leave us) with great memories, good friends, strong values and the confidence to bring their very best to the world around them. I wish them all well.”

Top performers included:

Anthony Muffoletto who achieved an A* and two As (in Italian, Biology and Chemistry) which gained him a place to read Medicine and Surgery at Queen Mary University of London.

James Wootton-Evans, who has dyslexia, achieved an outstanding set of three A*s and an A (in Politics, Business, Geography and his Extended Project Qualification) securing a place at Exeter University to study international relations.

Luca Moretto, who gained an A* and four As and is off to read ancient and modern history at Oxford University.

Varun Nathan, who is one of the Bedford School boys who will be studing medicing after achieving three A*s to win a place at Birmingham University.

Kempston Academy

Kempston Academy is delighted to announce its student’s successes with those who applied for a place at university all receiving their first choices.

Individual success stories include Mya Banghar, who earned a distinction in media and also in performing arts; Callum Donnelly who secured great results as he received a B in biology, C in chemistry and a C in psychology; and Eva Denton who obtained a Distinction in business and performing arts and a Merit in media.

Subjects that performed well included art, health and social care and performing arts, all averaging a Distinction grade.

Karen Bateman, headteacher at Kempston Academy said: “I am thrilled to witness the excellent achievements of our A-Level students. Their dedication and resilience over the last two years study and learning have shone through, which has ultimately reflected on their superb results.”

Adrian Rogers, chief executive officer of Chiltern Learning Trust added: “As a new school to the Chiltern Learning Trust, I am absolutely delighted that Kempston Academy has achieved a great set of results. I’d like to thank all the staff, students and parents for their hard work and commitment.”

You can share your A-level celebration pictures with us at [email protected]

We will update this article as more results come in.