Kent students continue to improve A-level achievement

More than 7,000 Kent students received their A-level and equivalent results on 14 August.

In parallel with the national picture, more students achieved passes and the overall two or more A to E grades increased by a further one per cent on the previous year to 93%, the highest performance since 2002. The quality of performance by students increased by more than four percentage points - the greatest improvement over the last four years and maintaining a seven year upward trend.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Educational Standards, Chris Wells was at Hillview High School for Girls, Tonbridge to share the mix of emotions as the students received their grades.  He said:

"I would like to congratulate all of Kent's A-level students on their achievements today and wish them every success. I'm pleased with the continued upward trend, which bodes well for the future. It's interesting to see a focus on quality over quantity this year - something I wholeheartedly support and welcome."

Initial indications from Kent's schools are encouraging. 

Hillview Year 13 students maintained the two or more A to E grade performance of previous years achieving 90%. One of two students who gained four straight As, Amy Ferguson, is going on to study law at Cambridge.

Co-headteachers Nigel Blackburn and Debbie Coslett of the Hayesbrook School, a near neighbour of Hillview, were also delighted with the achievement of their students who broke all previous records, including a 16% improvement at two or more A to E grades.

The new Cornwallis Academy also showed improvement on all measures, with a massive average points score per entry improvement of 62 points, which was closely followed by Swanley Technology School with an impressive 61 point improvement on 2007.

Dover Grammar School for Girls once again achieved the highest Kent average point score per student at 1065.8 points. While Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone, achieved the highest Kent average point score per entry at 252.

Students at the mixed selective Queen Elizabeth School, Faversham celebrated high grade scores from several students with two achieving five A grades, four achieving four A grades and three who achieved three As. All students at the school have gained enough points to for them to take up their places in higher education.

Results are available from individual schools.  KCC will issue confirmed data when it is released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families later in the year.

Source: Kent County Council