Watford secondary schools celebrate 2024 A-level results

Year 13 students in the town were among thousands across the country to find out their hard-earned results after two years of studying.

Nationally, top grades were expected to drop back to their pre-pandemic level, although figures now show that 27.8 per cent of A-levels awarded were either an A or A*, up from 27.2 per cent in 2023 and above 25.4 per cent in 2019.

Zoe Ryan achieved A*, A*, A in English Literature, Media Studies, and History. (Image: Future Academies Watford)

Future Academies headteacher Sam Fox said he was “incredibly proud” of his students, adding: “These success stories highlight the commitment of our students and the high standard of education at Future Academies Watford."

The school heralded its students’ “stellar” results, such as Zoe Ryan who has earned a place to study Media Studies at the University of Warwick with her A*, A*, A grades in English Literature, Media Studies, and History. 

St Michael's Catholic High School in Garston offered an “enormous congratulations” to its year 13 pupils while the nearby Parmiter’s School also announced that it saw 16 per cent of all grades at A*, while 49 per cent or almost half were either A* or A.

A level Results 2024:

We are delighted to announce another year of outstanding A level results, with students achieving exceptional grades across all subject areas. pic.twitter.com/t9SqHQRGpy

— Parmiter's School (@ParmitersSchool) August 15, 2024

A Parmiter’s spokesman added: “The results are a true testament to their diligence and determination, the support of their families and carers, as well as the high-quality teaching and guidance from our dedicated staff.”

The strong results were reflected elsewhere at St Margaret’s and Immanuel College in Bushey where 50 per cent and 59 per cent of grades were awarded A* or A.

Freya, Safiya, and Mahima. (Image: St Margaret's School and pupils.)

St Margaret’s highlighted pupils Safiya and Mahima, who will both study biochemistry at King’s College in London after achieving A*A*A* and A*AA respectively.

At the Grange Academy in London Road, three quarters of its pupils will  head to university in September as 98 per cent of entries passed and 44 per cent achieved at least one A* to B grade.

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Pupils were also all smiles at Rickmansworth School and Clement Danes in Chorleywood as they were pictured opening their results today.

Clement Danes students opening their results today. (Image: St Clement Danes School) Rickmansworth School headteacher Matt Fletcher said: “I’m so proud of all the students who worked extremely hard to achieve these results and wish them the very best of luck as they move on to universities, apprenticeships and employment.”

Pictured: Kiran Birring, Daisy Shaw, Mara Powney, Thomas Knight, Kishan Patel, Emma Collins, Sakina Walji from Rickmansworth School. (Image: Rickmansworth School.) Clement Danes headteacher Toby Sutherland praised their "outstanding" results as 44 per cent of pupils achieved A* or A grades, 16 per cent secured A*, and 76 per cent of students received A* to B.

Nationally, the proportion of students awarded the top A* grade this year has risen by 0.4 percentage points to 9.3 per cent, compared with 8.9 per cent in 2023, and 7.7 per cent in 2019.

Excluding 2020-2022, the years of the pandemic, this is the highest proportion of A* grades awarded since they were first handed out in 2010.

But the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.2 per cent this year, which is lower than last year (97.3 per cent) and the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (97.6 per cent).