Out of this world results by students from Eastern Education Group eclipse previous outstanding efforts.
Eastern Education Group has congratulated the class of 2026 on an outstanding year of results – with achievements spanning top national grades, Oxbridge offers, international scholarships, and exceptional vocational outcomes.
Eastern Education Group includes One Sixth Form College (ONE) based in Ipswich, as well as Abbeygate Sixth Form College and West Suffolk College, both in Bury St Edmunds. All three have been graded Outstanding by Ofsted.
Abbeygate Sixth Form College
Abbeygate is celebrating a fantastic set of A-level results. A total of 569 students sat A-levels and the proportion of A* to B grades was 48.1%, while A* to A was 20% – a 2.4% rise on last year.
Top performing areas included Biology, Sociology, Maths and Further Maths, History and English.
Since opening in 2020, the college has expanded in terms of the amount of programmes it offers and students that it teaches.
Learners travel from across the region to study at a place that consistently sees people gain Oxbridge places, degree apprenticeships with big hitting businesses as well as international sports scholarships.
Students have also been on a number of international visits in addition to their course, travelling to places such as Thailand and America, as well as attending a debate in the EU Parliament based in Strasbourg last year.
And the sixth form was judged outstanding by Ofsted in May 2023.
Stuart Small is the Group Sixth Form Principal at Abbeygate. He said: “I’m delighted for our students in achieving such tremendous outcomes. I’m very proud of all them and also of our staff in terms of the hard work they have put in.”
114 sat vocational courses and the overall pass rate was 97.4%.
West Suffolk College
West Suffolk College is celebrating exceptional achievements across all courses this year – from vocational programmes to T Levels, apprenticeships, and higher education pathways.
1523 students successfully completed vocational qualifications, with the majority attaining Merit and Distinction grades.
This year the latest data shows that the pass rate rose from 90% toat least 91%.
As part of that data, 617 students completed a Level 3 UAL qualification with an overall pass rate of 94%. This is against a National Average for similar qualifications of 87%.
And UAL courses had 100% pass rate in subjects that include architecture, fashion, graphic design, media and journalism.
This year also saw excellent results in T Levels; a qualification designed with employers to combine classroom learning with industry placements, preparing students for the world of work and building a strong bridge between education and industry. T Level students earnt strong results that reflect the talent, commitment, and ambition of the College’s learners.
A total of 79 students took T Level qualifications and the overall pass rate was 94%.
These successes come as West Suffolk College was named one of the first Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs) in the country this academic year – and the only one in the East of England. As part of this government-backed initiative, the College will train 40,000 people by 2029 in skills such as bricklaying, carpentry, electrical installation, and plumbing.
This announcement follows on from news that £1 million in continued investment into the College’s state-of-the-art Built Environment campus has taken place, alongside £2.75 million in capital funding to create three new specialist centres in Soham, Ely, and St Neots that will be unveiled in the coming months. And continued investment will be seen at a college that celebrated its centenary in 2025.
Exceptional achievers included Deacon Fisher, 18, from Bury St Edmunds. Following a diagnosis of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a condition causing progressive central vision loss, Deacon has faced big challenges in his life. But he has not been deterred, and he has mastered new skills and passed his level 3 performing arts course – and will now be progressing to a level 4 course at West Suffolk College as he continues on his acting journey.
Colin Shaw is the Executive Group Principal for West Suffolk College. He said: “Our students have once again done incredibly well. We have seen another strong set of results enabling our learners to go off to their chosen destinations of apprenticeships, employment or university. Early indications show that these results have eclipsed last year’s results so it’s been another outstanding year. Well done to all our students – their hard work and determination has paid off and we wish them well in the future and can’t wait to welcome the class of 26/27 in the coming weeks.”
One Sixth Form College
One Sixth Form College celebrated another outstanding set of A level and vocational of results.
A total of 670 students received A-level results this year, with an overall A* to E pass rate of 96%. The A* to C pass rate rose to 68%, up from 67% in 2025, while the A* to B pass rate climbed to 41.3%, up from 39% the previous year. Ancient History, Maths and Politics were among the college’s top-performing subjects.
Over 500 students took vocational qualifications, with 99% achieving a pass. Top-performing areas included Applied Science, Engineering, ICT and Forensic and Criminal Investigation.
Jake Robson, Group Sixth Form Principal at One Sixth Form College, said: “More students enrolled with us than ever before, we have achieved our highest-ever levels of retention, more students have succeeded in gaining qualifications, and more have improved the quality of their outcomes. These results are truly exceptional.
“When One Sixth Form College was established 16 years ago, our mission was to transform opportunities and be a beacon of hope and aspiration for young people across the region. These results are a powerful endorsement of everything that has been achieved since then.
“Congratulations to all our students on their accomplishments. We wish them every success as they take their next steps. Thank you also to our dedicated staff, whose commitment, expertise and hard work have played such an important role in these outstanding achievements.”
CEO of Eastern Education Group, Dr Nikos Savvas OBE DL, said: “In line with our mission to raise aspirations and enable progression, we bring businesses into our colleges and take learners into businesses, giving them real-world experience and the confidence to thrive. When challenges have arisen, we have worked directly with our students, and their families where needed, to ensure they had the support to stay on track.
“This year’s results, across Abbeygate, West Suffolk College and One Sixth Form College, are a testament to that approach. From record-breaking A-level grades and Oxbridge offers to outstanding vocational, T Level and UAL outcomes, our students have shown what is possible when ambition is matched with the right support.
“But results are only part of the story. What we offer our students goes far beyond grades. Through the relationships and connections we have built with leading employers, universities and professions, we are able to open doors that might otherwise remain closed. Whether that is progression to Oxbridge, medicine, or careers with genuine prospects, we are committed to guaranteeing our students a future, not just a qualification. These achievements mark the next step in their journey as accomplished, well-rounded individuals ready to make a meaningful impact in the world.”
