A-LEVELS: Party atmosphere at Horsham’s Collyer’s

The teenagers were given online access to their results from 7am, but many arrived at the college two hours later to celebrate with friends.

Among them was Alex Weera, 18, who said she burst into tears when she realised she had received three A*s and one A grade.

Alex, from Horsham, said: “I had an incredibly sleepless night.

“There has been a knot in my stomach for about three days and it is gone now.

“I was very happy and very relieved - I went and woke everyone up when I saw the results.”

She will now go to the University of Manchester to study chemical engineering.

She said: “I am really looking forward to it, it’s a new start which is exciting. I have done lots of research so it will be nice to put it all into practice.”

Claire Marchant, 18, of Horsham, will study 3D animation at the University of Hertfordshire after she scooped two A*s and an A.

She said: “I didn’t know if I was looking at the right thing because of the way the results are laid out.

“I am really excited for the course, the lecturers there have been working in the industry, so it is like getting into work with the uni atmosphere.”

After receiving an unconditional offer from De Montfort University qualifying him for an accounting and finance course, the pressure was off Luke Sparling.

The 18-year-old from Horsham was still delighted to receive an A and two Bs.

He said: “I was a little bit nervous in fairness, it is one of those ones where I wanted it as a fallback just in case.

“Waking up and getting the results makes the end of September seem closer, I want it to roll around and be right there.”

Some students were celebrating particularly exceptional results.

Dan Kent, Kirsty Harris, Kate Jones and Emily Farr, who are all 18 and live in Horsham, picked up 17 A* grades between them.

Dan earned five A*s and will take maths at the University of Oxford.

He said: “I was just relieved because I have been putting it out my mind all summer. I’m looking forward to the whole uni experience.”

Emily will also head to Oxford to study maths, having earned four A*s.

She said: “Getting the results was amazing and I’m really happy. I am looking forward to getting to move to a new city and how different it will be.”

After earning,four A*s, Kirsty will go on to a psychology degree at the University of Surrey.

She said: “I worked really hard and spent a long time revising.

“I thought there was something wrong, I just couldn’t believe it and I still can’t.

“I would like to be a clinical or mental psychologist.”

Kate also picked up four A* grades and is also set to start a psychology degree, at the University of Warwick.

She said: “It was so nervewracking, I really wanted to get into my top choice.

“I have tried to forget about it as much as possible and keep my mind off it. It has been a long summer.

“I have always really liked psychology and wanted to do something I would enjoy.”

Maria Collins, 18, of Horsham, will study product design at Loughborough University.

She added: “I was very relieved because I got into uni. I can’t believe it is happening, now it is official it’s a bit scary really.”

The college’s students achieved an A2 pass rate of 98 per cent, with 54 per cent achieve grades of A* to B. At AS, the pass rate was 91 per cent with 62 per cent achieving A to C grades.

Dance had a 100 per cent pass rate with 88 per cent of students achieving A* to B, art graphics had a 100 per cent pass rate with 80 per cent at A* to B, 74 per cent of A2 maths achieved A* to B, with 70 per cent of both maths further and A2 geography students also at A* to B.

English literature enjoyed a 100 per cent pass rate with 67 per cent at A* to B.

In A2 Music and A2 (double) Travel and Tourism 67 per cent achieved A* to B, A2 photography had a 100 per cent pass rate with 66 per cent achieving A* to B, 64 per cent of art and design students were at A* to B and 63 per cent of A2 biology, psychology and French students achieved A* to B.

Meanwhile, in chemistry and electronics A2, 59 per cent students achieved A* to B, while 57 per cent of A2 history and government and politics students were at A* to B.

Celebrating her first set results as principal, Sally Bromley said: “It is another year of unprecedented A level success and I am extremely proud of our students’ achievements.

“We know how hard students and their teachers work to achieve such excellent results and how well they are supported by Collyer’s support staff.

“Parents need some thanks and recognition here too and I am sure they have been waiting with a mixture of nervousness and excitement for Results Day.

“I wish all our student leavers every success in the next phase of their education or career journey.”

In Level 3 BTEC diploma Art, 100 per cent passed, with 30 per cent achieving merit/distinction, in Level 3 business 100 per cent passed with 80 per cent achieving a merit/distinction* while 69 per cent gained a merit/distinction with a 100 per cent pass rate for Level 3 IT.

In addition, 81 per cent of sport students achieved a merit/distinction and 77 per cent of early years Level 3 diploma students achieved A*/A.

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