Holy Cross College ranked alongside the strongest colleges in the country for Value Added

The progress students are making at Holy Cross College in Bury is among the strongest in the country.

Measures for 16-19 performance, known as Value Added scores, show how much progress students who studied at Holy Cross made between the end of Key Stage 4 (GCSEs) and the end of their Level 3 studies (A Level and Vocational), compared to similar students across England. 

The Value Added scores for Holy Cross have ranked the college among the strongest colleges in the country. Not only that, the overall pass rate stands at 98% and the percentage of overall high grades is 57%.

Carina Vitti, Principal of Holy Cross College, said: “Everyone at the college is incredibly proud of the progress our students make from the time they join us at Holy Cross to when they leave. 

“While Results Day is a fantastic celebration of all their hard work and determination, seeing the strength of our Value Added offer shows the bigger picture. 

“Holy Cross proudly offers Excellence for All as a means of supporting all students with their social mobility, life chances and opening up opportunities for their future, whatever that may look like.

“Our successful Ofsted inspection in March 2024 also highlighted our strengths in this area and ensuring that social disadvantage is not a barrier to achieving in education.”  

Student Stories – Progress

Babak Falsafi 

Babak studied at Holy Cross since arriving in the country from Iran in 2022. He was midway through his GCSEs when he came to live in Bury with his family. 

He was not a native English speaker but did not let the language barrier get in the way of his education. Babak enrolled on a progression year at the college – enabling him to get the GCSE grades he needed to access Level 3 courses – and is now fluent in English. 

Babak went on to study A Levels in Persian and Computer Science, alongside BTECs in IT and Applied Science.

He achieved an A* in Persian, B in Computer Science, and a Distinction in both IT and Applied Science. 

What’s next?

Babak is going on to study Computer Science at MMU (Manchester Met University) later this year and hopes to work in AI and computer engineering in the future. 

Babak said: “It’s been a really good experience at Holy Cross. I made friends in the first two years who then went on to university, while I stayed for another year.” 

He credited support from senior pastoral lead and subject lead computer science, Mr Shah, for offering support along the way. 

Babak added: “I’ve had a lot of support from the staff here, especially from the Computer Science team.”

Viktoriia Domushchi

Viktoriia completed her GCSEs at The Heys School in Prestwich after moving from Ukraine.

She achieved an impressive three A* grades in A Level Art & Design, Graphics and Photography after studying at Holy Cross for the past two years.

Viktoriia also designed all the branding for the annual Holy Cross Art Exhibition in June 2025.  

What’s next?

Viktoriia plans on going to art school in either Manchester or London later this year.

She said: “I never dreamt I’d get three A*s. I realised that the skills come from the passion and I love exploring all kinds of work, working towards different skills such as drawing and knitting.

“I’ve loved everything about being here at Holy Cross and being given the chance to get hands on and involved in things like the exhibition.

“I was so scared to try new things at first but I was also very excited.”

Laura Watt, curriculum leader in visual arts, added: “Students in the art department have always done well in A Levels and we’re extremely proud of them.

“Viktoriia and lots of others have excelled this year. Bury as a borough is rich is creativity and we have a lot of young people who come here after studying art at GCSE level.”