Staffordshire’s Leading College Announces ‘Class of 2021’ Results

Headline results are as follows:

• 1050 A Level entries with pass rate of 99.8%
• 60.7% of A Level entries achieved high grades A*-B, 30.5% of which were A*- A. 85.6% achieved A* - C grades.
• 26 out of 27 A Level courses report 100% pass rate, including Accounting, Art & Design, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, English Language, English Literature, Film Studies, French, Geography, Graphic Design, History, Law, Media Studies, Photography, Physics, Physical Education, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion & Ethics, Sociology and Theatre Studies
• 1251 BTEC Extended Diploma entries with 99.8% pass rate
• 79.1% of BTEC entries achieved high grades D,M,M or above (equivalent to A* - B at A Level)
• 25 out of 26 Level 3 BTEC subjects report a 100% pass rate.

Subjects with particularly strong grade profiles are as follows:

• Travel & Tourism – 79.5% of students achieved grade DDD or above
• Sport & Exercise Science – 77.3% of students achieved grade DDD or above
• Health & Social Care – 76.3% of students achieved grade DDD or above
• Business – 74% of students achieved grade DDD or above
• Fashion – 73.3% of students achieved grade DDD or above
• Performing Arts – 71.4% of students achieved grade DDD or above

*DDD is the equivalent to AAA at A Level

For the second consecutive year, grades are not based on a student’s final exam performance. Earlier this year the Department for Education cancelled external examinations and exams regulator Ofqual directed schools and colleges to submit ‘teacher assessed’ grades for GCSE, A Level and BTEC students. In awarding grades these grades, teachers have used a robust evidence base including mock exams, coursework, assessments and observations.

Karen Dobson OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of NSCG said: “After months of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty, I am so pleased that we are able to celebrate in person today with the ‘Class of 2021’. The way in which this cohort have met the challenges of COVID-19 is truly outstanding. Whilst learners may not have had the opportunity to sit exams, or benefit from a normal study programme, they have worked incredibly hard and these excellent results are a testament to their relentless dedication, determination and drive.”

Continued Karen: “We wholeheartedly share in the pride that our learners’ family and friends will be feeling right now and wish all of our departing students every success as they leave NSCG to take up university places, apprenticeships or careers in industry. With September fast approaching, we are also looking forward to welcoming many new students to both our Newcastle College and Stafford College campuses and hope that these students are excited to become a part of our continued success story.”

In 2020 NSCG sent more students to university than any college in Staffordshire and the Group is predicting that today’s results should once again see it maintain its position as the leading provider of students to higher education in the area, with hundreds of students set to be accepted in to their chosen universities.

Top performing students at the College are expected to progress to a number of prestigious universities across the UK including; University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Keele University, King’s College London, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Durham, University of Leeds, University College London, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Warwick and University of York.

Annually around 97.5% of NSCG students progress to university, an apprenticeship or employment.