It's exam celebration time for South Devon College students

South Devon College A-level students are celebrating their exam results today with a 97 per cent overall pass rate. 

This year sees the continuation of the College’s history of high pass rates with  65 per cent A*- C and almost 40 per cent of the cohort achieving an excellent A* to B result.  

 The College is celebrating 100 per cent achievement rates across a broad mix of subjects including English literature and language, Business, Chemistry, Physics, Law, Sociology, Politics and Criminology. 

The College is also celebrating high results across a broad range of technical and professional qualifications including its first cohort of T Level students with a 95 per cent pass rate and 40 per cent achieving distinctions. 

Matthew Harbour, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO, said: "We are delighted with this year’s results especially given the national trend with the return to pre-pandemic grading results. This means that results across the country are lower than last summer and there are fewer A and A*s being awarded. In comparison to our A Level results of 2018/19, more students at South Devon College have achieved high grades this year. 

"All our students have worked incredibly hard to achieve their A level results with many securing places in top universities both locally and further afield.” 

Abbey Oliphant,18 will be the first person in her immediate family to go to university. The student from Dartmouth studied A level geography, politics, biology and the Extended Project EPQ (A,A,B,D). 

She said:  “I found A levels quite hard but the tutors at South Devon College were very supportive.” 

 Abbey has a place at Exeter University to study geography with politics on the side. 

 “Geography has always been my favourite course, there are so many different topics and it links to how we live. You can see geography in everyday life”, said Abbey, who wants to go on to take a Masters degree, then travel before going into teaching.

Paris Matthews, from Torquay, has secured her place at Brighton University to study film.

The 18-year-old studied A level film studies, psychology and sociology (B B A).

“I made a lot of friends that helped me through and the tutors were all really nice,” she said.

Fellow A level student, Fergus McGrath from Preston studied sociology, criminology and film studies (A B B).

He said the A levels he chose were areas he was very interested in.

He added: “A levels were difficult but also interesting and my advice is if you choose them make sure it’s a subject you enjoy and are good with a heavy workload.”

Fergus is hoping to go on to university to study criminology and sociology.

Daniel Jamieson, 18, is a step closer to his goals today.

He studied maths, chemistry and biology (B A C) and is now progressing towards a master’s degree in geography at Exeter University.

Daniel, who said he chose to study at South Devon College as he wanted a more independent learning environment compared to a regular sixth form, says his main advice is to “Know your goals and work hard to achieve them, start early and build up in terms of revision plans etc.”

Josh Harrison, 18 and from Torquay, took photography, film studies and mathematical studies. (BBB).

Josh, whose advice to other young people starting on the A level journey is to choose subjects you enjoy, is going on to a software engineering apprenticeship.

Fellow A-level student, Jodie Heather, is one step closer to her dream job of working with animals today.

The 18-year-old from Brixham, who studied biology, chemistry and psychology, (CBA) plans to go to university to study veterinary science or any biology related science.

She said:“The tutors were very friendly and I met some great people while studying A levels at South Devon College.”

Timothy Simmons, also 18, studied maths, computer science, religious studies and politics. (ABBC) and has now secured a place to study a computer science degree at Exeter University.

“All the A level tutors at South Devon College were very supportive,” he said.

South Devon College T Level students are also celebrating as they collect their results – the first cohort of students to receive results at the College for these new qualifications. 

Across two subject areas - Education and Early Years and Digital Production, Design and Development - there was a 95 per cent pass rate with a fantastic 40 per cent of students achieving a distinction.  

T Levels are new flagship two-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are equivalent to three A levels. 

The courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers and are designed to give students a more direct route into a wide range of industries fit for them. 

T Levels qualifications bring together classroom and work placements giving students the skills employers need. 

Olivia Moth, 19, studied an Education and Early Years T Level and achieved a distinction. Olivia now has a full time job as a teaching assistant at the school where she did her work placement. 

She says: “I love everything about working in the school. As soon as I started my course I knew what I wanted to do. I found the placement alongside the learning really helped. I learnt in the classroom and then saw it happen in real life.” 

Olivia, who is from Torquay, didn’t finish her secondary education due to having ME and was bedridden from the age of 14 for two years and then relied on a wheelchair to get around. 

She said: “My energy levels were completely down and I couldn’t do anything. The wheelchair helped me get out of the house. I started at South Devon College doing a Level 2 before starting the T Level course. Every tutor at South Devon College was so understanding about my ME and so supportive.” 

Olivia now wants to gain experience working in the school as a teaching assistant before possibly going to university and studying to be a teacher.  

Maria Woodger, Assistant Principal of South Devon College, said: "We’re really proud of our first cohort of T Level students and their achievements. They are moving on to such a wide range of next steps, with some going straight into the workplace and others starting a higher-level apprenticeship or going to university. We’re looking forward to seeing how they succeed in the future.

T-Level student, Ethan Appleby, 19, is now on his next step as he’s secured a place at university.

Ethan studied T Level Education and Childcare.

“My tutors were extremely helpful and nice which made the course interesting and fun. T Levels are definitely the way to go if you’re undecided about what to do at college as they are very accommodating and fun to new learners.”

Ethan has a place at University Centre South Devon, part of South Devon College, to study a psychology and criminology degree. 

T Level student, George Goddard, 18, from Brixham achieved a Distinction* in his Childcare and Education T Level.

He said:“The course was fun and offered a lot of support when needed and the tutors were friendly.” 

George’s next step is to go to university and become a primary school teacher. 

Trinity-Jade Harrison-Hastings celebrating her year 1 results in AS Levels in English Literature and Sociology. Trinity plans to stay on at South Devon College to continue her studies.

* University Centre South Devon, part of South Devon College, is now receiving high levels of inquiries for Degree and Foundation Degree programmes through its Clearing hotline. 

Places in clearing are now open across the country, where unallocated university places are matched to students. University Centre South Devon has a dedicated Clearing page on ucsd.ac.uk and a Clearing advice Line you can call on 08000 21 31 81 so you can find out what’s on offer locally. Visit uscd.ac.uk/events for more information. 

If you’re interested in studying further or higher education, there’s still time to apply. The College’s expert team are in place to assist with progression to a variety of different pathways that your new qualifications will make possible, simply call 08000 380 123 or email them at enquiries@southdevon.ac.uk.  

Alternatively, drop in and meet with guidance and teaching staff on Thursday 25th August, 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit southdevon.ac.uk/events and start your future today.