EPNE colleges celebrate outstanding results

Students at Sunderland College, Northumberland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College are celebrating after receiving their A-Level, T Levels and technical results.

Hundreds of students attended the group’s campuses across the North East with many accepting offers from some of the country’s leading universities, progressing to higher level apprenticeships or starting a new career.

Overall, EPNE performed strongly, with standout performances in many areas across all qualification types, in particular this year those young people with SEND did exceptionally well. EPNE’s sixth forms at Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College achieved a high A-Level pass rate, and a 100% achievement in subjects including Business, Film, English, and Mathematics.

Across the group, T Level students also impressed with outstanding performances in Adult Nursing, Education, Design, Surveying & Planning, Animal Care & Management, Digital, and Engineering.

Vocational courses gained 95% pass rate, with 81% of students achieving Merits and Distinctions, strong performances were seen across Sports and Creative subjects.

EPNE Chief Executive Toni Rhodes said: “These are brilliant results and a testament to the hard work, determination and ambition of our students and staff.

“What makes the achievement particularly special is seeing our learners with SEND not only succeed but outperform their peers which is a powerful reflection of the high expectations and inclusive culture our staff provide every day.

“I am incredibly proud of every student who has achieved these results and hugely grateful to our dedicated staff, whose commitment, expertise and belief in every learner has made this success possible.”

Northumberland College’s specialist land-based campus at Kirkley Hall once again excelled, with 90% achieving merits and distinctions in technical qualifications.

This summer also saw students at the college’s Ashington Campus receive results for the final time before its award-winning provision moves to a new trailblazing development at Advance Northumberland’s Wansbeck Business Park in October.

Conversely, learners at Sunderland College’s Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy were the first cohort to complete their qualifications since the state-of-the-art campus opened in September 2025, achieving excellent pass rates in T Levels, and vocational and technical courses with 83% of Design, Surveying and Planning students achieving a merit or distinction.