University beckons for Diploma graduates.

Talented students at the RSA Academy in Tipton are celebrating a record results haul, which sees the academy’s first student set for Oxford University.

The academy in Bilston Road is one of only a handful of schools in the region to offer the acclaimed International Baccalaureate Diploma rather than A levels.

The IB examining board issues results in July ahead of the traditional A level results day in August. It means IB students know which university they will be heading to a month earlier than most students.

And for Alex Beddall, from Moxley, it means he has secured his place to read English at St Peter’s College, Oxford. The 18-year-old is the first member of his family to go to university as well as the first student from the academy, which opened its doors in 2008, to go on to Oxford.

Alex, who scored 39 out of a possible 45 points, equivalent to four A* results in the IB Diploma said he was delighted with his results. “My family are really proud, when I told them my results they all nearly rugby tackled me to the ground. I’m the first one from my family to go to university and I am chuffed it is St Peter’s College, Oxford.”

The academy’s top scoring student was Andrew Watts, from Tipton, who got 41 points out of 45, again equivalent to four A* results. Andrew is off to Birmingham City University to study media and communications. Other star students included Nikita Goddard, from Bilston who is off to Huddersfield to study music technology and Bhavneet, Kudhail, from Tipton who is off to Nottingham University to study architecture.

Mr Daulton Redmond, Academy Principal, said: “We are extremely proud of all our students who have got their International Baccalaureate Diploma results. This year has seen the academy’s average point score once again increased putting us among the best IB academies around the world. We are especially proud of Alex – he is the first to earn a place at Oxford and a great example to our younger students.”