Priestley College is celebrating another year of outstanding results, with students achieving exceptional success across A-Levels, vocational qualifications and T-Levels.

As the largest provider of A-Levels in the local area, an incredible 100% pass rate was achieved in 30 A-Level subjects, with 63.5% of grades awarded at A*, A or B.

Among those celebrating was Evie Steele, who is heading to the University of Oxford to study Japanese and is already looking forward to spending time in Japan as part of her degree next year.

“The support of my teachers at Priestley has been amazing and I have just enjoyed every aspect of college life,” said Evie, who achieved three A*s and an A.

“Studying at Oxford is going to be amazing and I can’t wait to get there.”

Vocational and technical learners were similarly successful, with a 100% pass rate across 27 vocational subjects and three T-Levels.

Chloe Booth is heading to Manchester Metropolitan University to study Physiotherapy after securing D*D*D in Sport & Exercise Science.

Former St Nicholas High School pupil Lacey-Marie Kirk secured D*D in Protective Services and a Merit in Human Biology. She is now heading to the University of Worcester to study Paramedic Science.

“I’m most excited about the course, but also university life, the independence that will bring and how that helps you to become an adult,” she said.

Priestley students are also heading to some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, including Cambridge, Durham, King’s College London and Edinburgh.

Their chosen degrees reflect the breadth of subjects and interests across the college, including Ecological Environmental Science, Acting, Physiotherapy, Geography and History.

Josh Taylor is taking a different route, with a gap year ahead that will see him travel to Nepal to teach. The former Bridgewater High School pupil secured two A*s and two As and hopes to build valuable experience before pursuing his ambition of working in wildlife conservation.

“I’m hoping to get some real-life experience from my gap year before going to study at the University of Edinburgh,” he said.

Priestley School of Performance Arts continues to produce exceptionally talented performers, with students progressing to prestigious conservatoires including Guildford School of Acting, Bird College and the Royal Northern College of Music.

For many students, the next step will be into the world of work, with a number progressing to higher-level apprenticeships with employers including Sellafield, Pacific Nuclear Transport, the NHS and Cheshire Fire Service.

Principal Paul Willerton said: “Today is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of every Priestley student. There is no single definition of success, and what makes these results particularly special is the sheer variety of achievements and destinations we are celebrating.

“From students securing places at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities and conservatoires, to those progressing into higher-level apprenticeships, employment and exciting opportunities around the world, our students have demonstrated ambition, determination and resilience.

“We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved and, most importantly, of the futures they are now able to build for themselves.”

Compare college performance here

• 100% pass rate in 30 A-Levels
• Overall pass rate of 99.1% across 39 A-Levels
• 63.5% high grades at A-Level (A* to B)
• 83.6% awarded A* to C at A-Level
• Top 25% A-Level performance in the country
• 414 offers were made to Priestley students from Russell Group universities
• 100% pass rate in 27 Vocational subjects
• 86.7% of Extended Diplomas graded at DDD or higher
• 100% pass rate in three T-Levels with high grades well above national average
• GCSEs – Maths pass rate double national average / English triple national average
• Value-added progress measure in 2025 -0.04 
• Attainment measure: average points score (APS) in 2025 30.33
• Attainment measure: average grade in 2025 C
• Retention measure: the percentage of students retained to the end of the core aim of their study programme 88.7%
• Destination measure: the percentage of students in education, training or employment after 16 to 18 study (2023 leavers) 86%