By Matt Scorer

Hope Valley College are celebrating their best ever GCSE results.

The College smashed previous records with 84% of students achieving five A*-C grades - 12% higher than ever before.

Principal Bernie Hunter said: "Our results reflect the excellent curriculum we have in place for a fully comprehensive intake. This aligned with the hard work and dedication of both staff and students has resulted in these outstanding outcomes."

The College also recorded a respectable 3% increase in the number of students achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths. The total number of students reaching this benchmark was 58%.

Mr Hunter added: "The increase in the number of students achieving 5 A*-C grades including Maths and English is an upward trend that we are committed to maintaining. Resources are committed to this key area as the College is dedicated to accomplishing an ‘Outstanding' judgement in its next OFSTED inspection."

As well as outstanding results in Construction, Music, Modern Foreign Languages and Textiles the results in Science were particularly impressive. Over 80% of the year group gained two or more C grades or above in Science, with 40% of the year group gaining Triple Science with all three grades at C or above.

20% of students gained three Science grades at A or A*, a fantastic achievement given recent concerns about the small number of students taking triple Science nationally.

The Art Department, which was recently awarded an ‘Outstanding' judgement by OFSTED, saw 42% of entrants achieve an A or A*.

The College also saw several students achieve outstanding individual results. Andrew Randall, Tom Benson, Mark Waller, Chris Payne, Holly Simpson Ragdale, Holly Bee, Katie Hodges and Bryony Pullman all achieved 10 or more A* and A grades.

Danish exchange student Felix Jensen also achieved brilliant results after only one year of study. Having arrived at the College last September with limited English skills he achieved 7 GCSEs including English Language, Maths and Science.

Mr Hunter said: "We are delighted with the results and are very proud of the students who we wish every success in the future. Our results reflect fantastic achievement in both academic and applied areas of the curriculum. In line with our recent designation as an Applied Learning College we now don't only offer a broad academic curriculum but also a wide range of accreditation routes both independently and in partnership with the Peak 11 learning community. We are proud of the diversity which exists in our curriculum and are committed to ensuring all students can succeed according to their individual strengths and ability."