A-level results day 2023

Eastbourne College is celebrating outstanding A-level results with half of all exam grades awarded at A* or A, plus a further 24 A* grades achieved in Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs).

The 50 per cent of grades achieved at A* or A represent a 10 per cent increase on the pre-Covid years, compared with 39 per cent in 2019, and are the school’s best results achieved by this measure under full A-level conditions in a decade.

75 per cent of grades were awarded at A* to B, up by six percentage points on 2019 grades, when exams were formally sat in person. It comes after predictions that the proportion of top grades nationally would fall this year and return to pre-pandemic levels, following the teacher-assessed grade system in 2020 and 2021, where pupils had advance notice of the questions and no exam hall pressure.

Some of the highest grades were achieved across the STEM subjects. In science, mathematics, computing and design, 82 per cent of grades were A* to B. In mathematics, 93 per cent of grades were A* to B and 76 per cent A* to A. Girls achieved 85 per cent A* to B grades across all three science subjects – biology, chemistry and physics.

Core humanity subjects were also extremely strong, with 90 per cent of grades achieved at A* to B in history and 80 per cent at A* to B in English. Pupils at the College take the gold-standard A-level qualifications only and there was a 100 per cent pass rate.  

In addition to core A-level subjects, most sixth form pupils at the College complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) to develop additional skills in preparation for university or a future career, with 24 A* grades achieved in EPQs this year.

One in four pupils achieved an A* or A grade in all their A-level subjects, with all Oxbridge and medical school applicants achieving their grade offers.

They include 19-year-old Karam Al-Robaie, who achieved four A-levels at A* and is heading to Jesus College, Oxford, to study mathematics. Karam was the first pupil to receive the Denso Award at the College – a scholarship introduced by the school to support talented young people with a passion for engineering.

Florence Assetto, 18, joined the College in the sixth form to study four A levels in English, mathematics, music and politics, having received the school’s Richard Holliday Award for her talent in music. Florence achieved a clean sweep of A* and A grades and is now set to study Law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Florence said: 'I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study for my A-levels at Eastbourne College and I’ve loved it here. Everyone was supportive from the off, and I settled in quickly. I’m so chuffed with my grades and can’t wait to start my degree at Cambridge – although I’ll miss being by the seaside.'

Headmaster Tom Lawson said: 'It’s fantastic to see our A-level results continue an upward trend, rewarding the efforts of pupils and teachers following the tough Covid years.

'It’s a privilege that we can offer academic awards to support talented young people like Karam and Florence, who both joined us in the sixth form, to pursue their ambitions. These scholarships allow pupils from all backgrounds to fulfil their potential.  

'I am enormously proud of all our pupils celebrating today – huge congratulations to them. I would also like to thank all our brilliant staff for their commitment and hard work.'