Students achieving the top A-Level grades at Ely College Sixth Form improved markedly this year.

Some 26 per cent of passes were at A or A* - up from 16.4 per cent last year and more than doubling the 11 per cent in 2012.

The class of 2014 as a whole achieved an A*- C rate of 50 per cent, down from last year’s 66 per cent. The overall pass rate was 96 per cent.

It was also a particularly good year for students taking vocational A Level courses.

All students taking A-Level sport passed with at least one ‘distinction’, with 70 per cent gaining A*-B equivalent grades.

Top achievers in this subject were Michael Dye and Macaulay King, both of whom are heading for Essex University to read sport therapy, having achieved three A* grades.

Michael is pictured with Tom Walker - who is off to UCFB Wembley to read international football business and Daniel Fryer - who is off to Sheffield Hallam to read IT with business.

Also of note is Kate Riley, who stayed on at the college for a third year, and has now gained an A grade in her Computing A-Level and an A grade for her Extended Project Qualification. She will now read computing at Leicester University.

Mark Sirot-Smith, director of Ely College Sixth Form said: “All of the students collecting results today should be very proud of their achievements; both those recognised on certificates and those accumulated during their time here in enrichment and other extra-curricular activities.

“The class of 2014 should hold their heads high as they head out from here into work or further and higher education. My colleagues and I wish them all the very best.”

Ben Gibbs, chair of governors at Ely College, added: “The sixth form’s strategic decision to focus on providing post-16 pathways to work and higher education based on a rich curriculum of vocational A-Levels and employability skills is of its time. “The class of 2014 were 12-years-old when the financial crisis began in 2008. They have lived their teenage lives in austerity Britain.

“When seen against that backdrop, these young people’s successes today, and the choices they have made for further study, apprenticeships and employment, are all the more remarkable.”