Blackpool and The Fylde College students put the ‘A’ into ‘A-Levels’ this year as the College more than doubled the number of top grades achieved. The pass rate soared 5% from last year to a record 98%, making 2008/09 the A Level Academy’s most successful year ever.

Top ranked student Gerald Brent, 18, from Blackpool achieved four A grades in Law, Government and Politics, Business Studies and General Studies and a B in English. He will now go to the University of Manchester to Study Politics, Philosophy and Economics – a future Prime Minister in the making?

Blackpool’s Kim Finn, 20, wasn’t far behind with four A grades in English Language and Literature and Sociology at A Level, and in Geography and Mathematics with a C in Further Mathematics at AS Level. Brainy Kim has opted to continue her studies at Blackpool and The Fylde College’s new University Centre where she will study on the prestigious BA(Hons) English Language, Literature and Writing course, where 80% of learners last year achieved a first class honours or upper second class degree.

Laura Davies, 19, from Kirkham, was celebrating after being awarded an A in General Studies, B in Health and Social Care and C in Further Mathematics. Keen sportswoman Laura, whose mother originates from Scotland, is no stranger to top results – she recently won gold in the Scottish national 100m and 200m sprints. Laura has ambitions to join the 2012 Olympics squad but before then will take up her scholarship to study Anthropology of Religion and Maths at Lancaster University.

For AS Level students Stephanie Thompson and boyfriend Peter Latham, both 18, collecting their results was surprisingly not the most notable day of the year. The loving couple were delighted when Stephanie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in May, and the College made special provisions for the pair to sit their exams in hospital. Stephanie’s grades are good enough to allow her to move onto her A Levels with the College in September, while Peter exceeded expectations and will also continue to study at the College.

Double A students also packing their bags for University are Ryan Gordon from Blackpool, who will be studying Politics at the University of Essex, Emily Thorley from Thornton Cleveleys, who goes on to study her favourite subject, History, at Lancaster University, Amy Randall from Poulton, who has applied for the Psychology with Clinical and Health Psychology course at Bangor University and overachiever Luke Carroll from Lytham St Annes who is also hoping to head north to Lancaster University to read English Language and Social Linguistics.

A 100% pass rate was achieved across 20 of our 24 subject areas, with all students achieving A-C grades in English Literature, Further Mathematics, Drama and Theatre Studies and Art and Design (Textiles).

Vice Principal Catherine Hill praised the efforts of all the students, adding: “I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to all of the students who have worked so hard to achieve their grades. As they march on to greater things, I hope they will all look back fondly at their College days, and we look forward to welcoming many of them back to our new University Centre in September.”