There’s a festival spirit at Coleg y Cymoedd today (17^th August) as learners and teachers celebrate another year of impressive exam results.

The college’s dedicated Sixth Form Centre, which is delivered in partnership with St David’s Catholic College and Cardinal Newman Roman Catholic School, has seen another year of exceptional results, re-affirming its position as one of the leading A-level providers in the South Wales Valleys.

This year, Coleg y Cymoedd is celebrating a 98 per cent pass rate at A Level, with a 5 per cent rise in A*/A results. Today also saw many of the college’s 23 A-Level subject areas achieving a 100 per cent pass rate, including English, Law, History, Geography, Photography, Drama, DT, French, Music, Media, Film and Business Studies.

With over 240 learners receiving their results today, Coleg y Cymoedd is the largest A-level provider in Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The day’s outstanding achievements include seven Valleys learners from RCT, Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil, who all secured a highly impressive set of A*/A Grades across the board.

Megan Howells

Megan Howells, 18, from Merthyr Tydfil will be heading to Queen’s College, Oxford in September to study Law after achieving outstanding A*A*A grades in English, Law and History.

Aoife Elwood

Meanwhile, Aoife Elwood, 18, from Caerphilly, is set to study Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall College after achieving AAA grades in Biology, English and History.

Oliana Finlayson

Mollie Eatwell, 18, and Oliana Finlayson, 18, also both from Caerphilly, have topped off the college’s success by achieving highly impressive grades of A*A A in the same three subjects – Psychology, Sociology and Religious Studies. Mollie will be studying Sociology with Criminology at Exeter University, while Oliana is bound for Birmingham University.

In addition, A-Level learners Luke Ashman, Sam Andrews and Christopher Hodges have all secured straight As in a range of subjects, gaining them all places at top Russell Group universities.

Sam Andrews

Christopher Hodges

Judith Evans, Principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, said: “The fantastic results that we have seen today are testament to the hard work and commitment of staff and students alike over the past two-years.

“Our mission is to provide high quality education to the South Wales region and so it is a pleasure to see our learners’ continuing success at the Sixth Form Centre.  

“It is a proud day for the college as well and the families of these young people, and we wish them the very best for the future as they move on to university, further education or training, or take their first steps on the career ladder.”

View more photos taken at A Level Results Day 2017

There are still places available for A-Level and vocational courses starting in September 2017. For more information about the courses available and how to apply, visit www.cymoedd.ac.uk.

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A college with campuses in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly is seeking former learners who can inspire the current generation to academic success and career confidence.

Coleg y Cymoedd with campuses in Aberdare, Nantgarw, Rhondda and Ystrad Mynach is one of 400 schools and colleges working with the education charity Future First to harness the talents and experience of alumni to support current learners.

The college was formed in 2013 when Coleg Morgannwg and The College, Ystrad Mynach, merged and is hoping to contact former learners of the two colleges plus its predecessors; Aberdare College, Pontypridd College, Rhondda College, Rhymney College, Ystrad Mynach College and Glamorgan Centre of Art and Design Technology.

It hopes former learners in established careers and recent leavers now in higher education can motivate the current leaners and help broaden their jobs horizons by acting as career and education role models, work experience providers, mentors, governors and fundraisers.

Karen Phillips, Deputy Principal at Coleg y Cymoedd said, “We signed up to Future First’s scheme as we want our former learners to be part of the college’s story and to share their success stories with us.  I know we’ve had learners who have gone on to exciting careers and a network of such learners, with all their valuable experience will help broaden our learners’ horizons and inspire them to aim higher”.

Christine Gilbert, Executive Chair of Future First and a former Ofsted Chief Inspector, said, “Every state leaner should have the opportunity to succeed in life after college, regardless of their background. If leaners see ‘people like me’ have succeeded, they are more likely to believe they can too. They work harder and have higher expectations of success. We want more schools and colleges to see the benefits of using their alumni as a powerful resource.”

Marketing officers at Coleg y Cymoedd are waiting to hear from former learners on marketing@cymoedd.ac.uk.

Former learners register on the Coleg y Cymoedd Alumni site

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