Truro and Penwith College is celebrating an exceptional International Baccalaureate (IB) Results Day, marked by emotional moments, remarkable achievements and three standout student stories that capture the spirit of the globally respected qualification.
The College’s IB cohort achieved a 94 per cent pass rate, far surpassing the global average of 82.6 per cent. An impressive 86 per cent of students secured top grades of 30 points or more, while 11 per cent achieved over 40 points, placing them within the top 5 per cent of learners worldwide.
A Falmouth student who once feared his GCSE grades would hold him back is now preparing to study Medicine after a transformational turnaround.
Louis achieved 31 points, securing his place at the University of Southampton to pursue his dream of becoming a surgeon. After receiving lower-than-expected GCSE grades of 3, 5 and 6, he said he felt “clueless and lost with no direction” until staff at Truro College “motivated me to believe in myself”.
He chose the IB to keep his options open, explaining: “I never believed I would be smart enough to study Medicine… I love how diverse the IB is, you get to do something different every day and it’s really fun.”
For St Agnes student Faren, Results Day was an emotional family moment. Her parents “started crying immediately” when she opened her incredible 40-point score, securing her place to study English at Oxford University.
Faren said the IB’s sense of community shaped her experience: “It’s so surreal… everybody was so supportive all the time. I know loads of people that made loads of friends and really enjoyed it.”
Lostwithiel student Emma achieved 36 points and is set to begin an Apprenticeship with national firm Ward Williams at their Threemilestone office, training as a Quantity Surveyor.
She praised the IB’s mix of challenge, fun and opportunity: “It’s a nice community of students… I got to go to Iceland as part of my Geography course, which was a really good experience.”
As Cornwall’s only IB provider, Truro and Penwith College continues to attract students seeking a broad, internationally recognised qualification. Learners study six subjects, complete an extended essay and engage in critical thinking, with many taking part in international travel and charity work - including the annual trip to Eswatini to support the Shewula community.
Paul Gill, IB Coordinator, said: “We are incredibly proud of the exceptional results achieved by our students… The level of achievement across this group is only possible with extremely high levels of commitment and a team of dedicated lecturers.”
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Students from this year’s cohort will progress to top universities including Oxford, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Bath and Exeter, studying subjects ranging from Chemistry and Politics to Conservation Biology and Forensic Psychology.
The College is still accepting applications for students wishing to start in September 2026. Visit truro-penwith.ac.uk to begin your journey.
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