Priestley College celebrates a 'results day to remember'

After two years of hard work, students arrived at the college campus bright and early yesterday morning, Thursday, to find out if it had all paid off.

And not a frown was in sight as pupils opened their envelopes to find out their A-Level grades.

Among those who received great news yesterday were twins, Beth and Charlotte Glover, who were as invested in one another’s prospects as they were their own.

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With four A*s Charlotte secured her place at the University of Oxford studying earth sciences and, after collecting three A*s of her own, Beth was offered a place at Sheffield studying biological sciences.

“I was worried that if one of us didn’t get into university it might affect the other’s day, but it has all turned out ok,” said Charlotte.

Charlotte Glover (left) and Beth Glover (right) (Image: Priestley College)
Both twins are former pupils at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School in Widnes and both fully immersed themselves into life at Priestley College, taking The Graduate programme which helps prepare students for the most competitive universities.

Beth said: “If I had been taught by different people, I don’t think my results would have been the same and I wouldn’t have even had the chance to study Environmental Sciences at other colleges.”

Overall Priestley’s Class of 2024 secured a 100 per cent pass rate across 56 courses and more than 1,000 high grades across the provision.

The cohort received over 440 offers from the Russell Group institutions and around 500 are expected to accept university places.

One delighted student we spoke to when we visited the campus to witness results day was Sophie Jenkins.

Sophie achieved an incredible two A*s and one A in classics, English literature and sociology and is off to study classics at Oxford.

She said: "I have been to Oxford a couple of times over the summer and fell in love with it.

"It is surreal, but I was set on getting a place there.”

Other students are taking a different route after leaving Preistley like Sam Morrissey who has been offered a degree apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover after achieving a Distinction* in engineering and As in maths and physics.

“I didn’t choose the traditional university route because I wanted the (work) experience as well so I started looking at specific degree apprenticeships,” said the former Hope Academy pupil.

Impressively, all the Priestley students who applied for Medicine were successful in receiving offers, another major achievement for the cohort.

Sam Morrisey (right) and Antony Woods (left) (Image: Priestley College)
Ola Grabarczyk, who previously studied at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, received the maximum number of offers to study Medicine and is now going to the University of Liverpool.

“It’s insane to finally be here and to know all the hard work has paid off,” said Ola, who achieved As in Biology, Chemistry and Geography.

Results Day follows a year of incredible achievements at Priestley that were as varied as they were impressive.

They have included science students finishing in the top 8 per cent in national olympiads, the college’s Football Academy winning divisions one and two of the regional league, performers earning places at the UK’s leading conservatoires and many more achievements.

Vice principal George Contos said: “Our Class of 2024 is ready to go out into the world and make a real difference in an incredibly diverse range of professions; everything from Medicine and Law, to Sport and Music and many, many more besides.

“We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our learners and wish them well for the future.”