Maldon's Plume Academy celebrates their 'superb' A-level results day

A-level results were announced on Thursday August 14 with a record number of students getting into their first-choice university according to Ucas.

Top A-level results across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have also risen – with 28.3 per cent of all grades being marked at A* or A, up from 27.8 per cent from last year.

Tuition fees and maintenance loans in England are also rising this year by 3.1 per cent.

Plume Academy in Maldon has a post-16 education provision with “relatively low minimum entry requirements” for A-Level courses.

Campus - Plume Academy has post-16 provision at its Fambridge Road site (Image: Newsquest) A spokesperson said the school had a superb set of results, adding : “A significant number of students have applied to university, with many securing placements at prestigious Russell Group institutions.

“We are particularly pleased to announce that every student who applied for university has secured a place, with the majority achieving their first choice offers.”

Top Year 13 achievers include Ben S who achieved an A* in mathematics, an A in further mathematics, and an A in physics.

He will be studying mathematics at University of Exeter.

Aaron M also achieved an A* in business, an A* in Law, and C in Mathematics.

He will be studying politics at University of Leeds.

Poppy B achieved an A* in product design, an A in mathematics, and an A in Geography.

She will be studying Architectural Studies at Cardiff University.

Celebration - Natalie Coxeter, 18, is celebrating after getting A* in geography (Image: Newsquest) Natalie Coxeter, 18, is celebrating after getting A* in geography, an A in sociology, and a B in English literature at Plume Academy. 

She is now off to study geography and environmental science at UEA. 

She said: "I am really invested in changing climate change at the minute, and I think that’s a secure place right now to go to - as well as to lower carbon emissions

"The environment of Norwich is a really friendly place and small enough to not be lost but a bigger change than where I live which is Burnham."

Medicine - Emily Cooper, 18, will be studying medicine at Queen Mary's University (Image: Newsquest) Emily Cooper, 18, a student at Maldon's Plume Academy got an A* in English language and As in biology and chemistry.

She is now heading to Queen Mary University of London to study medicine. 

On pursuing her dream in medicine, she said: "It was very long, very arduous, with loads of steps, there was the Ucas, and personal statement.

"I found out this morning on email and I was bouncing around the house."

Emily, a qualified first aider and member of Maldon’s St Johns Ambulance, also said she has wanted to work in medicine since she was in primary school.

She hopes to work in trauma or cardiology.

Success - Harley Godfrey, 18, got a distinction star in his IT Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualification (Image: Newsquest) Harley Godfrey, 18, got a distinction star in his IT Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualification, A* in business and B in computer science. 

He said: “The (Cambridge) CTEC was hard with the coursework, it was hard to get through.

"I appreciated the exams in the first year, but the amount of coursework was difficult with my other subjects.

"Business was something I was good at, but I wasn't expecting an A star at all."

Harley says he was always interested in the computer side.

He added: "I might do a mix of that and business or programming or cyber security - as I believe cyber security will be big in the future with AI.

"I might look into apprenticeships too."

He will be going to clearing to check subjects for higher universities and apprenticeships.

Achievement - Rachel Monk, 17, got A*s in maths and psychology and an A in biology (Image: Newsquest) Rachel Monk, 17, got A*s in maths and psychology and an A in biology at Plume Academy. 

She is off to study psychology at Loughborough University.

She said: "I got into Loughborough which is my firm and felt relief this morning."

On her high grades, she said: "They were my predictions so I was hoping to get them but it was still a surprise.

On studying psychology, she said: "I have wanted to do it for ages, did it for GCSE and A-level and it was my favourite subject by far which is why I wanted to study it. I would like to do clinical psychology in the future."

Proud - Bethany Randall, 19, is leaving Plume Academy after getting a merit in her sports BTEC (Image: Newsquest) Bethany Randall, 19, also achieved a merit in her sports BTEC and a D in her criminology A-Level.

Bethany, who has autism and a learning disability, completed a King's Trust course before starting her A-levels. 

She is now applying for jobs and hopes to become a learning support assistant in a school.

Bethany also managed to pass both her math and English GCSEs while resitting them for the first time at Plume Academy's sixth form.

She said having less pressure and fewer subjects to study had helped her achieve her important resit passes.

Bethany will now celebrate with family. 

Mr Baster and Mrs Clark, joint Heads of Academy, said: “We are exceptionally proud of the results achieved by our college students this year.

Their hard work, resilience, and commitment have truly paid off.”

Mr Hallam, assistant headteacher and post-16 lead, added: “Working alongside staff, parents, and carers to help our students reach their full potential has been a privilege.

“I wish all our Year 13 leavers the best of luck as they embark on their next journeys, and I thank them for their hard work and commitment during their time at Plume Academy.”