STUDENTS at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington are celebrating with almost two thirds securing A* and B grades and a pass rate of 99 per cent in this year’s A level results.
For aspiring football coach Cameron Burn, from Cockfield, who achieved two top distinction grades for technical sport diploma, it means he is one step close to fulfilling his dream career in sport.
The 18-year-old also attained an A in A level media studies and has secured a place at the University Campus of Football Business, in Manchester, where he is taking a degree in football coaching and talent development.
He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with my results and couldn’t be happier with all I’ve achieved at QE over the last two years. The sport diploma really laid the groundwork for my chosen career path, and I’m excited to start a degree that focuses on football coaching.”
For the last three years he has coached youth football at Bishop Juniors FC, having completed the FA Level 1 in Football Coaching course. He shadows two UEFA B coaches and is working towards a UEFA C Licence qualification.
The teen clocked up more than 250 hours of volunteering in sport alongside his studies at QE, on Vane Terrace, Darlington, and was named Community Sport Volunteer of the Year at the college’s annual A Time to Shine awards.
He added: “I’ve been heavily involved in football from a young age – my grandad founded Toft Hill Three Tuns FC – and while I do play, both at college and for a five-a-side team, it’s coaching and development that I’m passionate about. I’d love to be a football academy coach, and the dream is to coach a high tier premier league side.”
Cameron also gained the college’s Higher Level Sports Leaders award, and was both a rugby and badminton leader while at QE.
He said: “Sport is my passion and QE not only recognised that but encouraged it.
Other college students from the dale also earned excellent results.
Lillie Firth, from Staindrop, achieved 3 A* grades in law, psychology and philosophy, religion and ethics, and she will study law at University College London in the autumn.
Bailey Clayton, from Gainford, attained 3 A* grades in history, law and media studies and will study cultural and media studies at Leeds University. Ruby Gray from, Barnard Castle, secured 3 A* grades in media studies, photography and textile design, and will move on to Salford University to study fashion, image making and styling.
Ryan Morton, another ex-student from Staindrop Academy, was awarded an A* grade in media studies and 3 A grades in English language, history and extended project. He will study Journalism at Brunel University.
Joe Walker, from Barnard Castle, will progress to Northumbria University to study marketing after gaining an A* in business and two A grades in economics and media studies.
Matthew Van Mourik, from Gainford, is going to study meteorology and climate with a year in Oklahoma at Reading University after achieving 3 A grades in chemistry, maths and physics.
QE principal Tim Fisher said: “We’re so proud of all of our students for the remarkable resilience they’ve shown over the past few years, both during and after the pandemic. We’re delighted with how hard they’ve worked.”
QE is one of the largest A Level centres in the north and provides draws students from across North Yorkshire and the North East.
