There were smiles all round at Pingle Academy this morning, as students flocked to discover the grades that would seal their fate.

Staff at the academy, in Coronation Street, Swadlincote, say students exceeded their expectations and achieved their best ever results, with almost half of the students achieving 3 A* to C grades, an increase of 15 per cent from last year.

Jessica Goodchild, 18, landed herself working at a logistics service nearby where she lives, in Swadlincote. She achieved BBC in her results and says finding out the results feels like a huge weight of her shoulders

Lee Smith and Jess Goodchild were all smiles as they collected their results from Pingle Academy
Lee Smith and Jess Goodchild were all smiles as they collected their results from Pingle Academy

She said: "Trying to fit everything was the hardest part. Trying to do all your work and revise and have time for yourself was really tough."

Jessica, who started her new role back in June, said it was difficult to transition from student to full-employment at first but is now loving her new lifestyle.

High-flying Daniel Hudson, 18, achieved the best results in his year - accomplishing A*A*A*A - confirming his place at the University of Leeds studying computer science.

Ryan Lewis, 18, of Swadlincote, achieved A*A A B C and secured his place at the University of Warwick reading law.

Olivia Shreeves was sure she'd failed
Olivia Shreeves was sure she'd failed

Aspiring mental health nurse, Olivia Shreeves, was overcome with emotion after she learned her place with the Royal Navy had been confirmed.

The youngster scored A*A B and said it was applying to university that gave her the motivation to do her best.

She is due to move to Plymouth in October to begin her training and she said: "I literally never cry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me! I think I built myself up to fail. I thought I was going to fail this whole time."

Eighteen-year-old twins Ben and Catie Peach, from Burton, both achieved the grades they wanted to get into university – and will both be heading to the University of Birmingham in September.

Twins Ben and Catie Peach
Twins Ben and Catie Peach

Ben achieved A*A*A and will be studying Physics while his sister Catie attained A*A*AB and will be reading Phycology.

Principal Vivien Sharples said: "Congratulations to our students on excellent results. The students performed as we knew they would.

"We have an excellent sixth form, with a very strong work ethic and high aspirations; our students set their sights on their goals and work hard to achieve them.

"The overall results are Pingle's best-ever with nearly half of the students achieving three A* to C grades, an increase of 15 per cent from last year. Of these 22 per cent were A* to B grades and an increase of 10 per cent. We are delighted with that.

"I am so very proud of our students, who are a credit to themselves, their families and to our Academy. New students joining our sixth form this September and our current Year 12 students will truly be inspired by these achievements.

"A-level results day is always one of the highlights of the school calendar. To watch the young people nervously opening their envelopes is just a real privilege. Today we have seen a great deal of that and congratulations have gone out to them all."

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