Top grades open doors for Ashton Sixth Form College students

A place at Cambridge, a move to London to study at Imperial College London and apprenticeships launching careers in education and HR are among the exciting next steps for Ashton Sixth Form College’s Class of 2026.

They are just some of the pathways opened up by another excellent set of results across A Levels, T Levels and vocational courses. Together, Ashton students collected an impressive 1,860 top grades at A*–B or equivalent.

For Lucas Calvert, achieving three A*s and two As means he will soon swap Greater Manchester for the capital to study Civil Engineering at Imperial College London.

“Getting into Imperial is a big achievement and being able to study at one of the best universities means everything to me,” Lucas said. “Going all the way from a small town in Manchester to London will be scary but it’s such an amazing opportunity. I can’t wait for a world-class education.”

Cambridge is the next stop for Verity Woodward, who achieved four A*s and will study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. Her place is the culmination of an ambition which Ashton’s staff supported and encouraged throughout her time at the college.

Verity said: “I’m so pleased with my grades. Ashton has been so supportive of my ambitions, even when my GCSE grades wouldn’t have suggested an Oxbridge applicant. My teachers invested so much time in helping me improve and make sure I met my offer.”

Their achievements are part of a strong year across the whole A Level cohort, with almost half of all grades awarded at A*–B and more than three quarters at A*–C.

That sense of possibility was not limited to university applicants. Technical and vocational students also excelled, opening up routes into higher education, specialist training and employment.

An impressive 96% of T Level students achieved at least a Merit and half secured a Distinction. Across BTEC and NCFE qualifications, more than three quarters of students achieved at least one Distinction grade and over 100 students gained a clean sweep of triple Distinction grades.

Those achievements are already turning into career opportunities. Finlay Holt achieved D*, D* and C and will begin a Level 3 SEND Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship with Dixons Silver Springs Academy.

“I am ecstatic with my final grades. I achieved higher than my predicted grades and the support I received at Ashton can be seen in my results,” Finlay said.

He also credited the college’s dedicated work coaches, Lindsey and Deborah, with helping him secure his apprenticeship, adding: “My advice to current and prospective students is to work hard, seek any support you think you need and you will thrive.”

Jack Robinson will also move straight into the workplace after achieving BCC and securing a Level 3 HR apprenticeship with Stamford Park Trust.

He said: “I really enjoyed my time at Ashton Sixth Form College and appreciated the support I received from my tutors and teachers. I’m proud to have secured an apprenticeship and I’m excited to take this next step and gain valuable experience.”

Whether they are heading to university, beginning an apprenticeship or entering employment, this year’s students leave Ashton with the qualifications, confidence and support to make their ambitions a reality.

Principal Lisa Richards said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the Class of 2026. They have made an outstanding contribution to our college community over the last two years and leave with a fantastic set of grades which are wholly deserved.

“These results represent hours of hard work and dedication as well as a great deal of persistence and resilience. I am very confident that our young people are leaving with the knowledge and skills to thrive at university or in the world of work.

“Whatever their next steps, I wish them all the very best and can’t wait to see what they achieve in the future. Well done to every one of them and thank you to our wonderful staff for everything they have done to create this success.”