One of Brighton’s largest education providers is celebrating a successful A-level results day.

Varndean College said it is “immensely proud” of its students, the majority of whom have gone onto their first choice of university.

It said students completing their studies this year have faced extreme challenges in getting to what was for the majority of them their first public examination.

GCSEs in 2021 were replaced by teacher assessed grades following a series of lockdowns.

Varndean said its results compare “very favourably” with 2019 pre pandemic levels and said they are a “testament to the hard work and talent of our wonderful students here at Varndean College”. 

The overall pass rate at A level is 98 per cent with the majority of subjects achieving a 100 per cent pass rate and a quarter of students achieving A* and A.

Half of students achieved A*-B and three quarters of students A*-C grades. Students have been similarly successful in vocational courses with a 98 per cent pass rate overall, with half of students gaining the very highest grades of distinction*and distinction.

College principal Donna-Marie Janson said:“We are incredibly proud of our students this year and of what they have achieved in what is for most of them their first set of public examinations.

“They have dealt admirably with this milestone and they have been inspiring to work with, to teach and to get to know.

“Our students are quite frankly amazing and they and their loved ones should feel as proud of themselves as we do for their spirited determination and for all they have achieved.

“I would like to thank and commend my entire staff for their continued hard work and dedication to ensuring that students have the best possible opportunities and the best possible experience. I would also like to thank all the parents and families of our students who have supported us throughout, we could not have done it without you.”

This A Level success follows on from Varndean’s International Baccalaureate results in July, when the IB students achieved a pass rate of 100 per cent, with an average point score of 36.16, equivalent to at least three A grades at A Level.