Star students at Sunderland Sixth Form are celebrating impressive A-Level grades.
The anxious wait is now finally over for the sixth form’s 500 A-Level students who collected their results first thing this morning.
Reeves Campbell is celebrating after notching up two A*s and two As in maths, chemistry, biology and his extended project. The 18-year-old, from Thristley Wood, will now study medicine at Newcastle University, and has his sights set on becoming a heart or brain surgeon.
He said: “I’m really happy with my grades. I can’t believe I got what I needed to go to university, and I actually achieved higher grades than what I needed. I now know I’m going to study surgery which is a great feeling.”
Reeves, who has been a regular volunteer at St Benedict’s Hospice for the past year, decided he wanted to pursue a career in surgery after shadowing a general surgeon at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
He added: “I think what surgeons do – saving lives – is amazing. The preciseness of each procedure really interests me as you have to know about the body in huge detail to have an understanding of what to do.”
Another star student is Morgan Ozuzu, who has overcome the barriers of his autism diagnosis to take up a place on a physics degree course at Newcastle University.
Morgan, who secured three A*s in his maths, further maths and physics A-Level courses, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at an early age.
He said: “During primary and secondary school, it was a significant problem as it hindered my improvement with social skills and made me reluctant to face change, meaning I would be hesitant to try new experiences. However, thanks to the therapy I received and the positive influence that my friends had on me, I was more willing to try new things which eventually led to me having hobbies and achievements that I am proud of.
“When I started college it was reassuring to know that if I did have any problems, I would be able to talk to my tutor about it. I have now learned to embrace change when it comes which is why I’m particularly excited for university and why I am no longer worried about my autism being an issue.”
Olivia Wallace, 18, from Hetton-le-Hole, achieved a trio of A grades in her English language, English literature and media studies A-Levels.
She will be heading to Newcastle University to study accounting and finance. Olivia said: “I’m still in shock but I’m so happy. I opened my results with my mum and sister and we all celebrated together. I’ve had to work hard to get to this point and I’m really proud of what I have achieved.”
Sunderland Sixth Form is Sunderland College’s specialist A-Level hub which opened last September.
In total, 16 of the subjects on offer at the college’s sixth form – the largest provider of A-Level courses in the area – achieved 100 per cent pass rates including biology, English language and literature, French, German, geography, history, law, photography, music and PE.
Nigel Harrett, deputy principal and deputy chief executive, said: “We are delighted that our students have achieved such excellent results, and to record 100 per cent pass rates in 16 of our A-Level subjects is a fantastic outcome.
“This is a momentous day for our A-Level students who have worked extremely hard to reach this point, and their determination and diligence is evident in the exceptional grades they have achieved. Many of our students will now be taking up places at prestigious universities, with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their higher education courses.
“Today is a culmination of two years of study at the college, and it is a proud moment for all of us to see our students celebrating their results as they move on to the next stage of their lives, and we are very happy to celebrate with them. Our lecturers have been there every step of the way offering support and guidance, as well as top quality teaching, and it’s important to recognise the positive impact they have had on our students and their successes.”
Sunderland Sixth Form was opened at the college’s Bede Campus to ensure A-Level students have a dedicated centre for learning, which comprises of first-rate teaching, resources and facilities, as well as specialised support and guidance.
Expert A-Level staff teach 30 courses from the sixth form which attracts students from across the North East and it is on course to increase the amount of subjects it teaches.
Nigel added: “In less than a year, the sixth form has quickly established itself as a highly-prized centre for academic learning that has already produced some exceptionally talented students who are now set for higher education. We are looking forward to welcoming new A-Level students in September and guiding them to success.”
He added: “It has been a thoroughly positive year for Sunderland College, and this has been compounded by a set of fantastic A-Level and technical results. Our vocational students have achieved superb marks in their professional and technical courses, and the opening of our specialist £29million City Campus facility last September has played an integral role in nurturing the skills of these young people. In addition, we are thrilled to welcome Hartlepool Sixth Form College to Sunderland College following our merger, and we are excited to continue serving our students in both areas and make a positive impact on our communities.”