A-level Results Day 2023: students across Lancaster and Morecambe celebrate

At Ripley St Thomas CE Academy, head Ed Goddard has praised students for working hard through a difficult period, having had to take their GCSEs during the pandemic.

He said: “We are delighted with this year’s A-level results. This cohort of Year 13 had a disrupted time at GCSE due to Covid and therefore this summer was their first experience of sitting formal examinations.

"They have shown remarkable resilience and determination and they have worked incredibly hard. We are very proud of them and congratulate them on their very well-deserved A-level results.

“It is difficult to single out individuals amongst some excellent results overall, however special mention needs to go to the following students for their exceptional performances:

3 A*s: Evie Martin, Adam Seward, Martha Tulley

2 A*s, A: Eve Calvey, Aidan Duffin, Joel Ramm

1 A*, 2As, 2Bs: Karol Kulig

1 A*, 3As: Joah Legg

1A*, 2As: Siem Berhane, Susannah Howarth, Fergus Ripley

2A*, B: James Tomkins

A*, Distinction*, B: Joshua Green

3As: Isabella Cottam, Nathan Davies, Jake Edwards, Isaac Hill, Nathaniel Nir, Muhammad Zafar

A*, A, B: Annika Felstead, Annie Hughes

“I would like to thank the staff team at Ripley for working tirelessly to support pupils both academically and pastorally throughout their time in our Sixth Form and also our parents and carers for their ongoing involvement and support.

“We wish all our students the best for their futures and we look forward to hearing how they get on in the years to come.”

Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School students have been rewarded for their dedication and hard work with excellent results.

74% of all grades were at A*- B with a remarkable 41% at the very highest A* and A grades. 35 students gained at least 3 A levels at grade A and above, with 11 students gaining at least 3 A* grades.

The high success rate means that students have secured their places at their chosen universities to study a wide range of courses including Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Law, Engineering and Computer Science in addition to the more traditional subjects such as Sciences, English, History, Geography and Languages. A number of students have also secured competitive degree level apprenticeships.

Headteacher Chris Beard said: “We are incredibly proud of all of our students who have achieved an outstanding set of results.

“At Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School Sixth Form we aim to support every student in finding their place in the world as a happy, healthy, fulfilled young person, ready for their future.

"It is wonderful to celebrate students’ success today and to see the wide range of university courses, degree apprenticeships and other opportunities that they have secured. We wish them every success in the future.”

Ms Dobson, Head of Sixth Form, said: “The students and staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve these excellent results. Everybody at LGGS would like to congratulate our Year 13 students and wish them all the very best for the future.”

Year 13 students at Morecambe Bay Academy collected their A-level results today from the Lawther Library.

“We are incredibly proud of their individual and collective achievements as their hard work has paid off,” said executive headteacher John Cowper.

“The year group have remained focused and resilient throughout this challenging period in education and it is so pleasing to see them secure their future pathways.

“We are also very grateful for the support of all our parents, carers and committed staff body, that have taught and guided our students through sixth form, it has been a real team effort and everyone within our school community can be rightly proud of the successes seen today.

“We wish all our students the very best of luck for their futures and welcome them back at anytime so that they can update us on life beyond Morecambe Bay Academy.”

Almost half of all results at Lancaster Royal Grammar School were A* or A grades (48.2%), and well over two thirds of all results (70.4%) were A*, A or Bs.

Seven pupils achieved four A* grades and ten others achieved three A*s.

Headmaster Dr Chris Pyle said: “Huge congratulations to every single one of our students on these outstanding A-level results. Today is a day to celebrate and enjoy their success. It is excellent to see our students progressing to a wonderful array of university courses, degree apprenticeships and other opportunities.

“We are immensely proud of our Sixth Formers – girls and boys, boarding and day – for all they have achieved over the past two years. Some have come through particular challenges. They have also contributed hugely to the life of the school beyond the classroom.

“Thank you to staff for providing the exceptional teaching and pastoral care which are the hallmarks of Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

“Very best wishes to our Sixth Form students as they prepare for the exciting next stage of their journeys. I know that they will go from strength to strength.”

Our Lady’s Catholic College has also reported some outstanding achievements by its students in their A-levels and other level 3 qualifications.

As well as all students succeeding at the next stage of their education, the school is particularly proud of the following students who have done exceptionally well:

Owain Kirkbride-Duckett, who gained grades A*, A, A in maths, French and physics respectively as well as a grade A in AS further maths.

Nikolaos Kailidis, who gained grades A, A, A in chemistry, maths and physics respectively as well as a grade A in AS further maths, plus a grade C in AS sociology.

Poppy Willetts, who gained a Distinction* grade in Applied Science and Health and Social Care as well as a grade B in geography.

Helen Seddon, the college’s headteacher, said: “We are extremely proud of all the work and achievements of our students.

"Our teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure students are all able to progress onto higher education or their other chosen career pathway with the overwhelming majority of our students having secured the university of their choice. We congratulate them all and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

Staff and students at Dallam School in Milnthorpe are celebrating all the achievements of 74 pupils who sat their A-levels this summer.

“Our amazing young people have done so well in unprecedented circumstances,” said headteacher Steven Henneberry.

"They were in Year 10 when the pandemic hit and their GCSEs were cancelled, so this is the first time they have sat formal exams. They’ve also had to navigate all the stresses that a pandemic can create for families and friends.

"So we are celebrating tales of exceptional achievements, of triumph over adversity and students gaining a huge set of wider skills that will help them with their next steps.

"From sporting and musical successes to developing leadership and organisational skills by putting on community events and being role models and a source of support to students in Years 7-12.

“Eight of our boarders sat A-levels, and not in their first language. And we recognise their amazing achievements alongside living away from home, developing independence and resilience.”

Among those with strong academic results is Matthew Acott. His two A* and two As gain him a place to study physics at Durham University.

Edie McCoskrie’s A* and two As means she will go to the University of Portsmouth to study counter terrorism, intelligence and cybercrime.

Tom Jameson secured three As and a C and has his sights set on studying Engineering at university from 2024.

Matthew said: "I'm so excited to be going to Durham to study physics, it's so nice knowing for certain now and I am so grateful for all the support I have had along the way."

Edie said: “I’m really happy that all my efforts throughout my time at Dallam Sixth Form have paid off and I can’t wait to get started with my undergraduate degree at the University of Portsmouth.”

Amelie Brockbank is off to the University of Stirling to study sports development and coaching as a result of getting two A* and a B. She is celebrating with tickets to watch Stormzy perform in Victoria Park, London, this weekend.

The strongest performing boarding student was Michaela Hird, whose three Bs gain her a place at Nottingham Trent University to study accounting and finance.

Mr Henneberry added: “We expect the vast majority of our students to secure places at university, commence apprenticeship schemes or enter employment.

"And there are a wide range of opportunities elsewhere as a plan B. We’re here to help with that and with staff taking calls and dealing with enquiries over the next few days.”

Students at Giggleswick School in Settle are pursuing their personal passions as they move on to a wide variety of exciting futures.

The results see students head off to red-brick and Russell group universities including Cambridge, Durham, Exeter and UCL as well as prestigious places on degree apprenticeships with Rolls-Royce.

A total of 56 students took their A-levels at the independent school this year and their wide-ranging future studies include:

· Medicine & Classics at The University of Cambridge

· Maths, Languages, Psychology & Religion at Durham University

· Architecture at Lancaster University & UCL

· History & Business at The University of Exeter

· Motorsport Mechanics at the National College of Motorsport in Silverstone

· Rolls-Royce Business Degree Apprenticeship

· Music Theatre at The American Musical Dramatic Academy in Hollywood Los Angeles

· Business Management at Cardiff University

Sam Hart, headmaster, said: “I am pleased with the results which reflect considerable hard work and determination. Across the cohort, pupils have secured excellent offers. Whether it be Cambridge, leading Russell Group universities, degree apprenticeships or apprenticeships, they are heading off to exciting futures.

"I am particularly delighted that Eleanor and Jemimah have secured their Cambridge offers to read Medicine and Classics – a very fine achievement against strong competition. However, there is much to celebrate across the board for a year group that sat their first every set of public exams this year. I have been impressed by their resilience, ambition and desire to follow their interests beyond Giggleswick.”

Harry Cook from Giggleswick will be completing a degree apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce after achieving brilliant results in History, Politics and Business Studies.

“Gigg were fantastic with helping me apply for apprenticeships,” he said. “The Apprenticeship Club every week really helped me to understand the process and applications. The best thing about Gigg is everything that is on offer here, and from that, all the friendships you make. You’re not just friends with those in your house, you’re friends with everyone through all the extra activities you take part in too.”

See also our separate picture gallery here.