YOUNG Islanders were mostly celebrating, or occasionally commiserating, as they ended a tense wait for the results of their A-level exams yesterday.
Jersey students achieved an overall pass rate of 96.4%, compared to the English figure of 97.1%. A quarter (25.5%) of all A-levels taken by Jersey students resulted in A* or A-grade passes, compared to 27.6% in England.
For A*-C passes, Jersey students achieved 78.0%, compared to 76.0% in England.
Education Minister Rob Ward congratulated students, saying that the results marked “the culmination of a lot of hard work, dedication and persistence”.
“I would encourage you all to feel proud of your own individual results and wish you all the best of luck in the future,” he added.
“I’d also like to thank the parents, guardians, teachers and school staff, whose constant support, encouragement and dedication have been vital in guiding students to this point.”
Schools and colleges across the Island reopened yesterday for the first time since the end of the summer term, so that students could find out their grades and compare notes with their peers, parents and teachers.
Many were already aware of whether they had succeeded in gaining a place in higher education, with details having been made available from 8am through the online hub operated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.
Deputy Ward said that the Skills Jersey Careers Guidance Team and the Student Finance Team were available to offer advice to anyone who needed it.
The majority of secondary schools provided further details about their students’ A-level achievements.
Victoria College
Among departing students, 95% achieved places at either their first or reserve choice universities. Grades of A or A* were achieved in 39.3% of exam subjects, while the figure for A*-B was 71%, the highest since 2017 (except for the centre-assessed grades awarded in 2021 during the Covid pandemic).
“I’ve known many of these boys since I joined the school six years ago and it’s bittersweet to be seeing them leave,” said head teacher Dr Gareth Hughes. “A number have overcome some challenging personal circumstances and to see them come through with the grades that will pave the way for the next chapter in their lives gives me so much pride.
“These are everybody’s results – the contributions made by parents, staff, Old Victorians and others have made it a real team effort.”
Highlands College
Sixth-form students gained their results, with 97% passing their professional and technical qualifications at the same advanced level as A-levels. Progression directly into employment, university or continuing programmes at Highlands College had already been secured by 94%.
Jo Terry-Marchant, principal at Highlands, said: “I love results day. There’s a real celebratory feel among the college community and even for those few who haven’t yet got what they hoped for, it’s nice to be together and get support from fellow students and staff.
“This has been a really resilient and hard-working year group, overcoming the Covid pandemic, which had a major effect when they were in Years 10 and 11.”
De La Salle College
Head teacher Jason Turner said it was “hard to describe” his delight at the performance of pupils, which saw the highest-ever figure of passes at grades A*-C – 85% beat the previous record, set in 2007, by 1%.
Students at De La Salle matched the college’s 2023 achievement of 29% of subjects being passed at grades A or A*, which had been the highest figure since before the Covid pandemic.
Mr Turner added: “We exceeded our minimum expected levels in all measurements, which demonstrates the significant value added we provide for our boys. I would like to congratulate all the boys who achieved their personal best and many of whom exceeded them. Every student who did his best should be celebrating today.”
Hautlieu
Interim head teacher Kate Blackhall said: “We are delighted to celebrate the successes of the class of 2024, who have worked so hard to achieve their very best in their studies.
“The care of parents and teachers in supporting our students has been very much appreciated throughout their time with us.”
Students who took the International Baccalaureate at Hautlieu School achieved an 82% pass rate, compared to the worldwide pass rate of 80%.
Beaulieu Convent
Excluding the assessed grades from the Covid years, Beaulieu students achieved the school’s highest success at A* and A since 2017, with 34% of all results being at the two highest grades. And 58% of all students achieved at least one grade A or A*, while 98% of those seeking higher education were accepted into either their first or second choice of university.
The school’s new headmaster, Matthew Burke, said: “As we celebrate these exceptional results, we are reminded that each student’s journey is unique and that their time at Beaulieu has been about much more than academic success.
“It has been about personal growth, community involvement and preparing for the future with confidence and compassion. We are immensely proud of what they have accomplished and look forward to seeing how they will continue to make their mark on the world.”
Jersey College for Girls
Principal Carl Howarth said he was “delighted to announce another year of remarkable A-level results”, which included a 100% pass rate across all subjects.
Mr Howarth said he was “immensely proud” to report the achievements of students, which included 37% of grades awarded at A* or A, 70% at A*-B, and 93% at A*-C.
“These results are not just numbers: they represent the countless hours of study, the overcoming of challenges, and academic growth of our students,” he added.
