A-Levels...your complete round-up for south Essex

Pupils will now be preparing for the start of University life next month, as their schools post another year of increased results.

There were celebrations all round as Mayflower High School, in Stock Road, Billericay, boasted a 100 per cent pass rate – with 60 per cent of students attaining A*s to Bs.

A total of 23 A* passes were registered by the school’s brainboxes, and the headteacher Lee Brumby said: “These spectacular results are a testament to the extremely hard work and dedication of both students and staff.”

Troubled Basildon Academies’ sixth form posted improved results for the second year running, with 80 per cent of pupils 80 getting A* to C grades.

The academy, in Wickford Avenue, Basildon, which is in special measures, had all its sixth form students get at least three A-level passes.

Results at King John, Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, had a massive improvement compared to 2011.

Just under half of pupils – 49 per cent – were awarded A* to B grades, compared to 32 per cent two years ago.

At Southend High School for Boys, in Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff, saw half of its results come back graded either A* or A, with eighty of the top grade, brought into A-levels in 2010, handed out to its pupils.

Headteacher Robin Bevan said: “Excellent teaching and a superb working atmosphere have helped dedicated students obtain amongst the school's best ever grades at A-level and at AS-level.”

Over at Southend High School for Girls, in Southchurch Boulevard, Southchurch, three quarters of pupils secured at least a B grade.

Student Caroline Purvis excelled in her exams, getting 5 A* grades and an A, which secures her place at Cambridge.

98.2 per cent of A-level pupils at South Essex College’s Southend campus, in Luker Road, attatined passes, up 1 per cent on last year, and 0.1 per cent above the national average.

There was a 100 per cent pass rate in 17 subjects, and principal and chief executive, Angela O’Donoghue, said: “Our students can be proud of all they have achieved after all of their hard work and I wish them all continued success for the future.”

Beauchamps High School, in Wickford, posted a 99.3 per cent pass rate.

Nationally, the pass rate rose marginally to 98.1 per cent, as it has done for the last three decades.

HE may have got one of the best results in his school, but instead of celebrating, Joe Evans went back to work as a pizza boy last night.
Joe, 18, of Trinder Way, Wickford, picked up an A in law, as well as Bs in business and economics and maths.

The former Beauchamps student will start a degree in accountancy and economics at University of Southampton in September.
Before that, he has a few more shifts making pizzas at Dominoes.
He said: “I checked UCAS in the morning and saw I had got my place at university. I’m happy to have no more stress.
“I went to work on results night to get some money in the bank but I am going to V Festival this weekend.”

SHOOTER Reggie Went is going to work in his family business.
Reggie, 18, of Church End, Runwell, will put his triple distinction* BTEC in business into use when he works in Eastern Sporting.

The shooting business, based in Chelmsford, is perfect for Reggie who also goes shooting in his spare time.
Reggie, who was a pupil at Beauchamps Sixth Form, said: “One of my hobbies is shooting so it’s quite a unique business but I use the course quite a lot.
“I thought quite long about whether to go to university or not but getting experience is better for me.
“Lots of my friends have decided against university this time around because of the price of fees.”

DESPITE achieving incredible A Level results, Luke Cornwell has an agonising wait to see whether he gets into his first choice university.
Luke, 18, came away from Beauchamps Sixth Form with A*s in law, English literature and maths, as well as an A in further maths AS Level.

But he missed out on an automatic place to study maths at Bath University after achieving one mark below the asking grade in a qualifying Step exam.
“I didn’t think my results would be this good. I am pleased about it but I hope I can still go to Bath.”

ALL rounder Femi Kalejaiye has achieved the grades he needs to study law at a top university.
Femi, 18, of Wethersfield Way, Wickford, got As in maths and English language and literature combined. He also came away from Beauchamps Sixth Form with a B in economics and business.

He said: “English and maths complement each other quite well, there was a different atmosphere in each lesson.
“I felt relaxed picking up my results because my exams went well.
“I am the first in my family to study law. I like it because it’s about justice and standing up for what is fair.
“It is really sad to leave Beauchamps, I have a lot of history at this school.”

DEMI Lee hopes fame beckons after securing a place for a performing arts degree at the University of Essex in Colchester.

Demi, 18, from, picked up a distinction and two merits in a performing arts course.She said: “It has been great here we performed a murder mystery and also 4.48 psychosis by Sarah Kane to other students. We also did a shadow performance inspired by Attraction from Britain’s Got Talent about the September 11 and 7/7 bombings. At university I will get the chance to try singing and dancing and bigger performances. We will be putting on shows in fields and castles. I hope to be a famous actress one day.”

ABBIE McGavin landed her first job at her own school before she had even finished her course and got her results.
The 18-year-old from Southend now works full-time in reception and administration at the sixth form of Chase High School.

The hard-working student finished her business studies course three months early and yesterday learned she got the top mark possible of three starred-distinction grades.
She said: “They asked me if I wanted to do work experience on reception after I finished the work and have now taken me on full time. I am going to do an Open University degree in business and accounting, but it could take six years.”

MICHELLE Singizi proved it’s never too late to turn things around by getting a distinction and two starred-distinctions after poor predicted grades.
The 19-year-old from Blackdown, Southend, was predicted just three passes in her travel and tourism and business studies course.

She said: “In my first year I was basically still a kid. I was always later for first classes. At the start of the second year I had practically two-years of work to do.”
With the support of Clare McLewin, head of sixth form, and some out of hours studies, she caught up.
She added: “I am now going to Middlesex University to do a degree in human resources.”

COMPUTER Wizz Cory Crawcour could be making the next Shrek or Monsters Inc after getting top marks in games development.
The 19-year-old from Glenwood, Avenue, Westcliff, got three starred distinctions in the course which involved programming to make computer games and creating computer generated imagery (CGI) animation.

He intends to keep studying the subject at Southampton University.
He said: “I am very excited. I would like to work in CGI in the future. I had to make some landscapes on the course and did a cabin in the woods for a horror movie. I could even end up making computer games.”

HOPE Muganhuri has already worked in the pharmacy of Southend Hospital as part of her health and social care course.
The 19-year-old from Rochford Road, Southend, gained two distinctions and a merit on the course and is now going to do a health and computer engineering degree at Northampton University.

She said: “I did work experience at the hospital and also some care homes. With my degree I could carry on in health care or even go into IT. I am looking forward to it.”

LUCY Allen was another top scorer who got the starred distinctions in her health and social care course.
The 18-year-old from Eastbourne Grove, Westcliff now hopes to get a place on a midwifery degree through the clearing system.

She said: “I had to do 100 hours work experience and did them in a childrens’ centre but would prefer midwifery. It was hard work I had to do 18 units, but I really enjoyed the course.”

Students from King John School, Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley

Faye Shillibeer, 18, of Dovervelt Road, Canvey is celebrating after receiving a clean sweep of A grades in Spanish, Maths, and English language at King John School, Thundersley.
The high-flying pupil is now looking forward to studying Spanish, Russian and German at St Andrews University which she hopes will stand her in good stead for her dreams of travelling and working abroad.
She said: “I did so much better than I thought so I’m absolutely delighted. Its been such a stressful time and I was going to extra lessons before and after school and doing whatever I could to make sure I was prepared, so I am really pleased the hard work has paid off.”

Number-cruncher Jess Hart, 18 of Malyon Court Close, Thundersley is delighted to be studying Maths at the University of Kent after gaining an A* and 2 As in Psychology, Maths and Sociology.
The King John pupil is hoping her university experience will help her decide what she wants to do and shape her future career.
She said: “I’m just completely amazed at my results. I worked so hard but I never imagined I would do so well, especially seeing as I struggled a bit with my AS Levels. I think that made me work harder to be honest. I pretty much shut myself away for a few weeks to study and thankfully it was all worth it.
“I’ve always been really good at maths and while I don’t really know what I want to do yet I’m hoping once I start university that will change.”

ASPIRING criminologist Sarah Smith, 18 of Long Road, Canvey is hoping to make her mark catching criminals after gaining a place at Portsmouth University to study for a degree in Sociology and Criminology.
The hard-working student, from King John School in Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, gained a B and three C grades in History, English Language, Psychology and Finance.
She said: “I’m over the moon I’ve got in. It was such a worrying time sitting the exams but all our teachers have been really supportive. I really want to work with the Home Office one day to help figure out ways to prevent crime and improve the law because I’ve just found it so interesting to study.”

Elizabeth Wisbey, 18, of Kings Park, Thundersley is celebrating after her B, C and D grades in French, English and History helped her gain a place at Plymouth University.
The talented youngster is looking forward to studying for a degree in criminology and criminal justice studies with law.
She said: “My results came out so much better than I thought they would so it came as a real surprise. It is such a huge relief knowing I have got a university place and don’t have to go through the clearing process. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now because I just find it all so interesting so I’m delighted they have offered me a place.”

Students from Seevic College off Runnymede Chase, Thundersley

NERVOUS Seevic student Sarah Davis breathed a sigh of relief after gaining an A and 2 Bs in Law, History and Art, gaining her a placed at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
Despite having bad dreams the night before that she had failed to gain a university place, the hard-working 18-year-old from Kingswood Crescent, Rayleigh is instead looking forward to the next three years studying for a degree in society, culture and media.

She said: “Even though I revised a lot I just genuinely didn’t think I wouldn’t get in. I even dreamed last night that I got an A and 2 Cs and that everyone got into university apart from me. Thankfully that wasn’t the case so I’m really relieved and excited to go to university. But first I think we will all be going out tonight to celebrate.”

HIGH-FLYING student Chloe Griffin, 18, from Paddock Close, Eastwood, celebrated after receiving a clean sweep of A*s in Biology, PE and Psychology at Seevic College in Runnymede Chase, Thundersley.
Her top grades means she has managed to secure a place at Essex University in Colchester to study Psychology.
She said: “I am just so happy I still can’t believe it. I’m really looking forward to studying psychology because I just want to help people either in hospitals or doing sports psychology. My family are so proud of me and have been really supportive, I think my mum was even more worried than me. I just never expected to do so well, I’m over the moon.”

SEEVIC pupil Tom Shuttlewood, 18, of Shorefields, Benfleet is delighted after receiving a 2 A*s, an A and a B in Physics, Maths, Law and History.
The talented youngster will now be studying Physics at Birmingham University.
He said: “Obviously I’m really pleased with my results. I worked really hard to get them and I think I’m just so relieved it’s all over and done with now. I was fairly nervous but I think everyone is when it comes to exams.”

Hayley Clark, 18, of Down Hall Road, Rayleigh, was delighted after gaining a place at her dream university Heythrop College in London.
The dedicated Seevic student gained an A and 2 B grades in philosophy, religious studies and art and is now looking forward to studying for a degree in philosophy.
Despite her impressive marks the young perfectionist still felt she could do better.
She said: “I am really happy with what I got but to be honest I did really an A in Art but never mind. I worked so so hard and I literally didn’t leave the house for a month because I was studying so much. But I got into my university which is the main thing. It was all or nothing, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else so I am pleased.”

PROMISING footballer Nicholas Foster, 19, picked up his A-Level results last year and was all set to go to Brighton University but stayed on at Billericay School after he was offered a four-year soccer scholarship in America. He was approached by Firstpoint USA, a firm that places student athletes at American universities and colleges this time last year, but needed a social science to be considered so he spent another year in full time education studying psychology and sociology which he gained a D and B grade in on results day. He also has A-Levels in PE, media and IT. 

The West Ham fan, of Noak Hill Road, Billericay, jets off to West Virgina tomorrow.He said: “I am a bit nervous but thick that’s only natural. My ultimate goal is to play football professional, but it’s sensible to have a back-up plan and I would like to start a coaching school in America as the sport is getting more popular out there.”

JAKE Callaghan, 18, from Langdon Hills, Basildon, said he owes a lot to his maths teachers at Billericay School.
He achieved three A* in maths, music technology, and his extended project in computer science and an A grade in further maths.

He will be heading off to the University of Oxford’s Oriel College to read computer science and said he feels “blessed” to have got a place at the prestigious university.
He said: “I’ve had some fantastic teachers for A Levels that kept me on track, I’ve been very very fortunate and I owe a lot to the maths department.
“I’ve had a lot of help, I wasn’t always the studious type at first but they got the ball rolling after I did better than expected at GCSE.”

SHANICE Richardson, 18, has her heart set on becoming a doctor after achieving three As in biology, chemistry and geography.
The Billericay School student, from Great Burstead, Billericay, also got a B in general studies and plans to read medicine at Liverpool University.

Her ambitions of becoming a doctor were confirmed when she spent two weeks on a pre-medical placement in Tanzania last year where she got observational and practical experience across out patients, surgery, and gynaecology departments.
She said: “It was amazing, I would go back if I could, it really opened my eyes and I saw so much.
“It confirmed what I wanted to do and now I know where I’m going I’m really excited.”

ANIMAL lover Lily Sansom, 18, will be reading veterinary science for five years at Bristol University after getting three As in biology, chemistry and geography, as well as a B in general studies.
She will be the first member of her family to go to university and said she is “excited” she can say she is definitely going to pursue her dream of being a vet now rather than “maybe”.

The Billericay School student, of Tyelands, Billericay, said: “It’s been really hard work, especially applying for veterinary school, a lot of people apply for limited places. There’s a lot of pressure but I’m so relieved I got the grades I needed.”

FILM maker Will Norman, 18, is off to Sussex University to study film theory/practical and English literature after achieving an A* in his extended project, which was a documentary about the internet and film industry, two As in English and media and a B in general studies and psychology.

His achievements are all the more profound after he had to deal with the worry of his brother Robert, 17, who suffers from epilepsy and severe brain damage, spending four months in Basildon Hospital between September 2012 to January this year.
“It was really tough,” he said.
“I was out of school for about a month but he’s fine now and everything has worked out. I’m well happy, it’s better than what I expected because I 100 per cent thought I would fail.”