There is still an opportunity for students in Derby and the surrounding area to join Derby College Group (DCG) and begin their A Level studies this September, but places are limited and decisions need to be made within the next week.
Following another strong set of results this summer, in which 347 A Level students achieved an overall pass rate of 97% across 26 subjects, an increase of 6% on the previous year, Derby College Group remains one of the region's largest and most successful providers of A Levels, T Levels and BTECs.
Sally Archer, Head of A Levels at Derby College Group, said: "I could not be prouder of our students this year. These results reflect not just two years of hard work, but the belief they have shown in themselves, often in the face of real challenges along the way. Whether they are heading off to university, starting an apprenticeship or taking their first steps into the workplace, our students leave Derby College Group equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed."
Success stories from this year's cohort
Alex Zurawska, 18, from Derby, needed two As and a B to study speech and language therapy at Newcastle University, but exceeded her own expectations with three A*s in English Language, Psychology and Sociology. She said: "I was nervous about getting my results and making sure I had the grades I needed for uni. I'd like to be a speech therapist, helping children with their speech, but we'll see."
Kingsley Pickering, 19, from Mackworth, achieved an A* in Psychology, an A* in English Literature and a C in Criminology, and is heading to Durham University to study Psychology, with hopes of becoming a clinical neuropsychologist. As the first in his family to go to university, he said: "When I joined college I had no real idea what I wanted to do. I spoke to one of my teachers, who was so informative and really helped me find my path."
Still time to join
A Levels at DCG are taught at the Joseph Wright Centre, the college's specialist post-16 Academic and Arts College in Derby's Cathedral Quarter, a hub of inspiration for around 1,700 students. Set around a striking atrium, the centre offers extensive teaching spaces, an excellent library and learning resources centre, IT suites, art and design studios and modern science laboratories, alongside a vibrant atmosphere shared with students from the college's Creative Industries Academy.
Whatever a student's ambitions, whether that's law, science, journalism, business, psychology or beyond, A Levels from DCG are designed to build not just academic knowledge but the dedication, application and critical thinking needed to progress confidently to university or the next stage of their career. Students typically study three subjects over two years, with the option to add a fourth or strengthen their UCAS application with an Extended Project Qualification. With a wide and flexible range of subjects on offer, students are not limited to the combinations they may have been used to at school.
Anyone still deciding on their next step is warmly encouraged to drop in to the Joseph Wright Centre to find out more, or get in touch by emailing enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk or calling 0800 028 0289.
More information on A Level courses at DCG is available at derby-college.ac.uk/a-levels.