A-Levels: Sixth form records best ever results one year before closure

The results are the best in the college’s 20-year history.

But next year it is set to close for good, with students from the high school likely to head to nearby Hove Park sixth form.

Headteacher Ashley Harrold said: “All of the staff and students at Blatchington Mill have worked incredibly hard for this success and I am so happy for them and proud of them.

“It is an unusual time for the college, with the decision to close from 2019 already made, but our commitment was clear that all students in the college would receive the very best education possible, and the college would close on a high. “What is so pleasing is to see the students ready for the next stage in their lives, whether they are now entering employment, beginning an apprenticeship or starting a course at university.

“It makes me particularly proud to note that disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs outperformed national expectations and made better progress than other students.

“Education should be transformative to young people’s lives, and give them access to future opportunities, and in helping these students flourish our teachers and support staff have done just that.”

The average grade achieved by all students was a high C. The breakdown of all grades was 21 per cent A* to B, 57 per cent A* to C and 100 per cent A* to E.

The college said disadvantaged students performed ‘superbly’, with value added scores of +0.28 for academic subjects and +1.12 for vocational courses.

Equally impressive were the outcomes for students with special educational needs, the school said, with value added scores of +0.37 for academic subjects and +0.62 for vocational courses.

The final year of courses at Blatchington Mill Sixth Form is set to run in 2018-19.

For more A-Level results in the area, visit our live blog.