NELSON and Colne College Group has announced a significant increase in high grades following the week before last’s government U-turn over A level results.

The government’s decision to accept centre assessed grades, as opposed to grades calculated by algorithm, has meant that show the number of students at the college group – which also includes Accrington and Rossendale College - achieving A*-A grades has risen by 12 percentage points to 37%.

Meanwhile those achieving high A*-B grades have risen further still by 14 percentage points to 69%, while the number of A level students achieving A*-C grades has also increased to 91%.

Nelson and Colne College Group assistant principal Fionnuala Swann said: “I am extremely pleased and grateful that students are now being awarded centre assessed grades.

“We as a College feel these grades reflect far more accurately the ability of our students and our predictions of what they would have achieved, had they sat their A level exams in summer.

“It should be highlighted that these updated A Level results are robust results in their own right, and the centre assessed grades have been calculated using rigorous methodology with teacher assessment, and moderation by heads of division and the senior leadership team."

The college group has now been placed best of all UK schools and sixth forms for value added performance as a result of the improved grades.

Ms Swann said: “We are exceptionally proud of the Class of 2020, and how they have responded to an unsettling and unprecedented moment in history.

“We wish them the best of luck as they progress onto their next steps, be it university, an Apprenticeship or employment.”

One student who saw her grades significantly improve was 18-year-old Bethany Waterhouse from Trawden, Pendle who has now been awarded three A*s in in biology, chemistry and mathematics.

Ms Waterhouse said: “I’m much happier with my results now as they are more representative of what I feel I would have achieved had I sat my exams.

“I was extremely disappointed with chemistry before the U-turn as that is the subject I am going to study and I was planning to re-sit it to improve my grade before the decision to accept the centre assessed grades was made.”