Bury St Edmunds A-level results: Abbeygate Sixth Form College, St Benedict's Catholic School, County High School and Thurston Community College
Students have been opening their A-level results today, with one school reporting top grades have been ‘significantly impacted’.
The national picture is of the proportion of students achieving the top A-level grades falling sharply this year, as the grading system returns to normality after the coronavirus pandemic.
Bury St Edmunds County High School
At County High School the cohort of students was much smaller than last year with a total of 57.
59 per cent achieved A*-C alongside 75 per cent of Level 3 vocational qualifications achieving the equivalent level, with an overall passrate of 95 per cent.
Headteacher Sally Kennedy said: “We are very proud of the results achieved by our students this year - the first year of national examinations for our young people in this cohort.
“This is testament to their hard work and the dedication of their teachers together with the support of their families despite the challenges they have faced.
“We are confident in the knowledge that they will now go on to great success in the next stage of their education and are excited to hear of their future journeys.”
When asked whether there had been a lower proportion of the top grades, she said: “A-level top results have been significantly impacted and we have seen students who haven’t achieved what we thought they would achieve with the very highest grades.
“They are hardworking students. We need to look more on a case by case basis now at whether these marks are appropriate.”
She added: “It was the first year they have taken external exams, this cohort, so I think to apply the same boundaries as 2019 is really unfair, to a group of children who haven’t had the same experiences as those in 2019.”
However, Ms Kennedy did say universities seemed to have shifted their offers to take into account the grading system.
She added: “So a number of students we thought we would be supporting through clearing are actually getting straight onto courses.”
Some of the notable achievements included Jessica Hammond will be going on to read German and beginners Czech at Oxford University, Jessica Boddington to read natural sciences at Cambridge, Zachary Thomson who will be studying psychology at Edinburgh University and Lewis Palfrey, Jemima Kent and Charlotte Utting who will all be embarking on degrees at York University, studying biomedical sciences, English language and linguistics and sociology respectively.
Jessica Hammond, 18, from Bury St Edmunds, who achieved As in geography, German and English literature, said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s a bit overwhelming. I’m just really happy and really looking forward to going [to Oxford University].”
The school also highlighted the breadth of courses students will be taking up, including Freya Wilson who has successfully secured an unconditional offer to study media, Ruth Almond, pursuing a career in fashion at Nottingham Trent, Isaac Radley who is embarking upon a degree in sports journalism, Emily Soar who will take up an unconditional offer to study criminology and criminal Psychology, Isabel Hollands who will be studying sport science and Edward Kent-Gibney who will be studying international relations at Edinburgh University.
Case study: Lewis Palfrey
Lewis Palfey’s parents spoke of their pride in their son after he persevered through a period of ill health to smash his A-level results and get into his first choice university.
The County High School student, 18, from Bury St Edmunds, was diagnosed with B cell lymphoma in January after finding a lump in the gland of his neck in the November.
Dad Alan said: “More or less immediately they started him on a course of chemotherapy with other drugs to go along with that and he went through that pretty much right up to when his exams started: all the way through his last two terms of school and revision period and he just finished treatment before the exams and he still suffered the side-effects of that treatment during the exams. He was still getting very tired.
“He worked his socks off, considering the situation he was in and his relative poor health during that period.”
During July Lewis finally got an all-clear.
Alan said it was ‘difficult to put into words’ his pride for his son and mum Gail Cardy said she was ‘absolutely’ so proud, adding: “It’s amazing.”
Lewis achieved As in biology and chemistry and a B in maths and will be studying biomedical science at the University of York.
He said: “I feel great about them [his results]. I was really worried at one point they would be terrible and knowing I have got in to do what I want to do, with the career I wanted, is great.”
Lewis is considering a career in medicine or research or development.
Case study: Ellie Turner
County High School student Ellie Turner and her mum Lucy are looking forward to studying adult nursing together, at the same university.
Both mother and daughter decided to go into nursing after Ellie’s dad Lee Turner suffered a stroke seven years ago. He was 38 at the time and has recovered.
“That kind of sparked it for both of us,” said Ellie, 18. “Just seeing how all the nurses worked with him.”
Ellie and Lucy will be on exactly the same course at the University of Suffolk, though at different stages, after Ellie secured a distinction* and distinction in health and social care. She also got a B in her extended project.
Lucy, 37, is going into her third year of studying for a BSc hons in adult nursing.
“I think I suddenly decided as I was getting older I really wanted to do something with my life and ‘its now or never’ and I have done it,” said Lucy, who used to run the kitchen at a primary school. “It just goes to show what you can do,” she added.
The pair, from Bury St Edmunds, said they were ‘excited’ to be studying together and could lean on each other.
They will see each other at uni for a year, as Lucy has one year left.
Abbeygate Sixth Form College
Leavers at Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury have been reflecting on their A-level results, with the assistant principal hailing the last school year as a return to “normality.”
This year, 19 per cent of pupils have netted an A* or A grade, with 48 per cent achieving at least one A*-B result and 72 per cent an A*-C grade.
Among those who came in to collect their results in person this morning was Tom Day, who is off to study maths at Warwick University after attaining four A*s in physics, chemistry, maths and further maths.
Tom said of his experience at Abbeygate: “It’s what I hoped for. I was pretty confident of at least three of them – but getting the fourth A* was nice.”
This year saw a return to the pre-Covid grading system, resulting in a sharp fall in the number of pupils attaining top grades across England.
Tom said of this: “I think it is a lot harsher this year, so a lot of people are going to be disappointed.
“That’s annoying, because it seems like we’re the first year that’s gone back to ‘normal.’”
Student union co-president Elaine Abu is heading to Edinburgh University to study English literature and French.
She got an A in politics and Bs in English literature and French.
Elaine said: “The results were quite nerve-wracking in the morning, but I knew that I got all of the support from the teachers that I needed over the past two years.
“During exam season, even if it was just a question or a chat I needed, I could go and talk to my teachers. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“With all my subjects, the grade boundaries were really high, so I didn’t have my hopes up for all As – I just wanted to to get into Edinburgh.”
Looking even further ahead, Elaine hopes to apply knowledge from her degree to pursue a career in international business.
Katie Pettit got three Bs in business, geography and sociology.
After sixth form, she is heading off to Nottingham Trent University to study business.
“A-levels are hard, but I’m happy to recommend them if you’re willing to put the work in.
“I’ve loved it here. It was really good. I’m really happy to move onto the next chapter.”
Assistant principal Stuart Small described the last school year as a return to relative normality, after the disruption to exams caused by the Covid pandemic.
He said: “We know, nationally, that we’ve moved back to the 2019 standard, so we have seen a slight drop in headline results. But we’ve also seen a lot of students placed at university, so we’re just supporting those who need and want that support.
“Overall, the college has performed pretty well.
“We have got fewer grades marked A*-A and A*-B than last year, but, nationally, that drop was supposed to be about 10 per cent.
“Our drop just isn’t that steep. We have some students who were expecting to go to different places, but, in many respects, it doesn’t feel that different to any other year.”
Thurston Community College
Many of the students arriving at Thurston Sixth’s Beyton campus had chosen to wait and pick up their results envelope, rather than check online.
Amongst them was 18-year-old Maisie Squire from Thurston who is now heading to Durham University to study maths after she achieved four A* grades in maths, further maths, biology and chemistry.
Maisie said she felt proud of what her and her fellow students had achieved.
She explained that her year group hadn’t sat GCSE exams due to the pandemic, which made taking the A Levels particularly scary.
Celebrating alongside Maisie was Holly Betts, 18, who achieved an A* in maths, A in English, A in further maths, and a B in physics.
Holly, who lives near Stowmarket, is now heading to St Andrew’s University in Scotland to study physics and has dreams of working in the field of astrophysics in the future.
She said: “I am really excited to be going to Scotland, I knew I had got a place but didn’t know what grades I had.”
Ben Langley, also from Stowmarket, is on his way to Southampton to study physics with maths at university.
The 18-year-old achieved an A* in maths an A in physics, and an A in computer science.
Ben, who got higher grades than he needed, said that studying for A Level was a ‘step up from GCSEs’.
“I was a little bit nervous before picking up my results as I needed three As,” said Ben, who was excited to tell his parents what grades he had achieved.
Ben turned off all email notifications on his phone so he wasn’t tempted to look at his results before arriving at the sixth form.
Of the 132 students entered for Level 3 qualifications at Thurston Community College, 20 per cent of grades awarded were A* or A (or equivalent) and 95% were A* to E (or equivalent).
David Gower, vice principal of Thurston Community College reflected on what students had to endure over the past few years.
This included: national lockdowns, with phased returns to school, Covid testing, face masks and social distancing.
There were also national teacher strikes and additional bank holidays for the Queen’s funeral and the King’s coronation.
Mr Gower said: ““They have not experienced ‘normal’ times yet they will receive ‘normal’ results as we have been told grading will return to pre-pandemic levels (results that will be comparable with 2019),” said Mr Gower.
“There will be stories circulating about the reduced number of ‘top’ grades, more competition for university places and more students dropping out of higher education.
“At Thurston Community College, our students have continued to impress us every day with their resilience, dedication to their studies, support they have given each other and the powerful community they have created at our Thurston Sixth Beyton Campus.”
St Benedict’s Catholic School
At St Benedict’s Catholic School, a total of 70 students sat A-levels, with the percentage of students gaining A*-C at 77 per cent.
Headteacher Imogen Senior said: ‘We continue to be very proud of the Year 13 students, not just at the excellent set of exam results they have achieved this year, but at the manner in which they have tackled any and all challenges they have faced during their time at St Benedict’s.
“Their determination, maturity and support for one another during their A-level studies has been a joy to watch and we are thrilled to see so many of them go on to the fantastic next stages of their education or careers their hard work has merited.
“We are pleased to see continued excellence despite lower scores nationally with 20 per cent of students achieving three or more A* or A grades and 31 per cent of all grades awarded at A* or A.
“Of particular note students Leonel Jose 4A* in maths, further maths, chemistry and physics, Rhian Li 3A*s in maths, further maths and computing, Adrian Smith – Delgado 3 A*s in maths, further maths, physics and an A in chemistry and Clara Saiu Bell with A*s in maths, chemistry and psychology.”
Deputy head Sam Tatum said: “The top results have dropped, but not by as much as we thought they would looking at the national picture.
“We are really proud of how the students have done. The number of students getting into Oxbridge has been really impressive.”
He added: “Given that this group have been through the Covid years, and the previous year groups had that taken into account with their grading, but this year group haven’t, we are really, really proud of them.”
St Benedict’s student Nokutenda Jaji, 18, from Red Lodge, was over the moon to achieve A*s in maths and physics and As in further maths and chemistry. He is going to the University of Cambridge to study engineering.
Culford School
Culford School recorded an overall pass rate of 98 per cent, with an A* to C rate of 82 per cent.
The number of grades awarded A* to A was 32 per cent, with pupils securing places at top universities including, Cambridge, Exeter and Bath.
Interim headteacher Claire Bentley said: “We are delighted with this excellent set of results for our pupils who have worked tirelessly over the last two years.
“Despite media reports attempting to lower expectations, our pupils have shown their resilience and brilliance in producing results that will take them on their chosen routes through university and apprenticeships.
“We are very grateful for all the hard work and commitment from colleagues whose dedication has allowed pupils to make the most of the vast array of opportunities and the outstanding teaching and learning opportunities at Culford. We wish our leavers every happiness and success as they take their next steps.”
Reporting by Mariam Ghaemi, Suzanne Day and Charlie Masters.
