Strode College, which attracts many students from Shepton Mallet, is celebrating another year of outstanding A-level and vocational results.

For the eighth consecutive year, Strode students have exceeded expectations. The college continues to be placed in the top 10 per cent (DfE league tables) of schools and colleges nationally for the progress its students make.

In fact, Strode's A-level students have made the best ever progress far exceeding their goals and targets, according to ALPs, which is a system that compares the progress of students in schools and colleges across the country.

This means that Strode students are well placed to progress to their first choice of university, onto an apprenticeship or into work.

With nearly 700 A-level exam entries, these results equate to a significant number of students.

Headline figures include:

1. 3 per cent A-level pass rate compared to a national average of 97.5 per cent

91 per cent of subjects achieving a 100 per cent pass rate

87 per cent of students achieved A* to C compared to a national average of 75.5 per cent

62 per cent achieved A* to B, 10.9 per cent more than the national average

30 per cent of students have achieved an A* or A grade compared to a national average of 25.2 per cent

Similarly, Strode's vocational students have achieved beyond expectations with nearly 85 per cent of students at least achieving their target grades which is five per cent higher than the previous academic year.

In many cases this was far exceeded, for example 95 per cent of engineering students and 91 per cent of business students achieved high grades, equivalent to an A* to B in A-levels.

Seventy-eight per cent of Strode students achieved a distinction or distinction* in their grade profile.

Strode students have also excelled in the new, rigorously-examined vocational qualifications, introduced by the Government and their progress is in the top five per cent nationally!

Katy Quinn, principal of Strode College, said: "All our students and staff should be immensely proud of another amazing set of results.

"At all stages of our students' journey, our expert staff are there to support, guide, inspire, cajole and encourage them to achieve their very best.

"Our students are dedicated, ambitious and hardworking - attributes that will serve them well throughout their career.

"I would like to say a huge congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to achieve beyond expectations."