Enterprising Louisa is among Guildford College's A-level stars

TOP A-level grades were the "icing on the top" for enterprising sixth former Louisa Burton of Guildford College.

The 18-year-old was among scores of the college's students celebrating results on Thursday (August 16).

Louisa, who gained an A* and two As in business studies, communication and sociology has won a place on a business management degree course at Winchester University.

She will work for her sponsor IT and management consultancy company Logica at the same time as studying.

Louisa said: "The cost of going to university had put me off so I was over the moon when, at  my tutor's suggestion, I successfully applied for the Logica sponsorship. To get these results is the icing on the top."

Other star students  included Steph Stovell, 21, of Epsom, with straight As in Sociology, Psychology and Anthropology, who will now study Psychology at Southampton University. Steph left school at 16 and worked at Chessington World of Adventure before returning to education. 

"I think my results are probably better than if I had done A Levels when I was younger," she said.

Emma Leach, 21, of Godalming overcame serious challenges to win a place to study Sociology at Warwick University with As in Sociology and her Extended Project and Bs in English and History.  

She had started A levels at another college but had to leave through ill health which hospitalised her. At 19 she courageously began again at Guildford College. 

"The college was really supportive and flexible and I was determined to succeed," she said.

James Hill, 22, of Woking also proved that you can gain a second chance. He dropped out of school at 14 but returned to education and gained Bs in his English Language and Literature and Film Studies A Levels. 

"I am so enthused by education now and I'm thrilled that I'm going to study English Literature at the University of East Anglia."

Sasha Freeke, 20, of Dorking, was ecstatic to find she had gained an A in English Language and Literature and an A* for her Extended Project despite condensing the English course into just one year. She now has the results she needed to study at Cardiff University's School of Dentistry.

The college in Stoke Park maintained its 98 per can A-level pass rate this year.

 "We continue to have one of the top results in the local area," said Martin Jones, Guildford College vice principal.