A-levels 2022: Live updates as Suffolk students receive results
Thousands of students across Suffolk discovered their A-level results, which will open the gateway for university or their chosen career.
Nationally, the proportion of candidates receiving top grades has fallen from last year, but is higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic with a total of 36.4% of entries awarded either an A or A*, down from 44.8% in 2021 but up from 25.4% in 2019.
Last year, grades surged to a record high after exams were cancelled for a second year in a row due to Covid-19.
The cohort of students collecting their results today 'has been more disrupted than any set of students since the second world war', said former Bury St Edmunds headteacher Geoff Barton, who is general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.
Commenting on today’s A-level and VTQ results, Mr Barton said: “Congratulations to the hundreds and thousands of young people who have received results in A-levels, AS-levels and in a host of excellent vocational and technical qualifications.
"To say they deserve great credit is an understatement given the context of a global pandemic which has caused huge disruption to their studies over the past two-and-a-half years.
"They have shown enormous resilience and fortitude to reach this point and we wish them every success in their future studies, training and career choices."
He said, as expected, grades were lower than in 2021 but higher than in 2019 when exams last took place.
He said this was as a result of the decision to return grading to pre-pandemic standards in two stages – which will mean they will again be generally lower next year.
A-level entries are up 4.2 per cent this year, partly because of the increase in the 18-year-old cohort, he said.
Students who miss out on the grades needed for their first-choice university can use the Clearing system to find a course.
Thurston Community College
The 'hard work and motivation' of students at Thurston Community College paid off as they celebrated a 'fantastic set of results'.
At the college, 123 students took level three qualifications with 83 per cent of grades awarded being A* to C.
A spokesman for the college noted it had been a 'unique time' in its history and the memories students take with them will include the closure of non-essential shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants; clapping for the NHS; wearing face coverings; twice weekly lateral flow and the disruption caused by their school being closed for extended periods of time as they battled the pandemic.
"We are delighted with the performance of our students who we shouldn’t forget sat their first external examinations this summer, given the GCSE exams were cancelled in 2020," he said.
"They have developed the independence to learn remotely.
"We have been incredibly impressed by their resilience, the support they have given each other and the powerful community they have created at the Thurston Sixth (Beyton Campus).
"Their hard work and motivation are a credit to them and their strength of character throughout these challenging times.
"It is also important to recognise the support from the whole Thurston Sixth community including the staff, families, parents and carers."
County Upper School in Bury St Edmunds
Of the 117 students who took A-levels at County Upper School in Bury St Edmunds, 71 per cent of students achieved A*-C with an overall pass rate of 97 per cent - and 16 students achieved A*-A grades across all of their subjects.
Headteacher Sally Kennedy said: “We are very proud of the fantastic results achieved by our students this year. This is testament to their hard work and the dedication of their teachers together with the support of their families despite the unprecedented 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.”
Notable individual achievements who gained A* grades across all subjects were Thomas Cartwright, Lauren Cocksedge, Felicity Ellis, Peter Lillistone, Anna Mavroghenis, Alexander Welton and Stella Wilkinson.
St Benedict's Catholic School in Bury St Edmunds
An 'incredibly strong set of results' was being celebrated at St Benedict's Catholic School in Bury St Edmunds.
From its cohort of 70 students, 19 students achieved three or more A*/A grades and 43 per cent of all grades awarded were A*/A and 87 per cent were A*-C. The overall pass rate was 99 per cent.
Headteacher Imogen Senior said: "The unique and unprecedented educational experience of these young people cannot be underestimated.
"This cohort had the unenviable experience of not only completing the key elements of their education under exceptionally challenging circumstances, but were denied the opportunity at GCSE to test their mettle and show what they were capable of through the formal examination system until now.
"Whilst we knew that they were brilliant young people and that our assessment and provision had been robust and fair, I know that for many the exams were a real source of worry and that this has been an anxious wait for results.
"Quite frankly, they’ve smashed it."
Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds
The college in Bury's Beetons Way recorded an overall pass rate of 97 per cent from a total of 330 students, with an A* to C rate of 79 per cent. The per cent recorded for A* to A was 26 per cent.
Principal David Gartland was pleased with the students results and is content that they will go on to 'thrive'.
"The students have done brilliantly, " he said. "What people might forget is that these are the first set of exams that students have sat, so there was a lot of anxiety going into them. But the results we have achieved are just incredible.
"I look at this cohort of students and they're ready. They're ready to go to university, they're ready to get that higher level apprenticeship and I think they'll thrive."
Woodbridge School
At Woodbridge School, 91 per cent achieved A* to C.
Head Shona Norman said: "Our students can be immensely proud of themselves and their achievements today which are a reflection of their resilience, determination and positivity in the face of adversity."
Haverhill Community Sixth Form
Executive headteacher Andy Hunter said they were enormously proud of their students and their 'wonderful achievements' this year.
“It is very encouraging to see how their hard work and determination has paid off, creating many new and exciting opportunities for each of them to move on to," he said.
“Students studying established subjects such as A-level Physics, A-level Film Studies and a vocational Business Studies qualification have all achieved highly, and students in newer courses, such as A-level Sociology, have been very successful too.
“We congratulate the whole cohort on their achievement.”
Notable successes included Bobby Cowling who achieved A*, A, A in Geography, Maths and Physics; Billy Hale who received Distinction*, A, A in Business Studies, Film Studies and Sociology; Amy Cordwell with A*, A, B in Film Studies, Sociology and English Language and Mebin Raju who studied three vocational subjects and secured Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction.
For a more in-depth look at the results and interviews with students click here.
Thomas Gainsborough Sixth Form in Great Cornard
Students from Thomas Gainsborough Sixth Form in Great Cornard, near Sudbury, are celebrating some impressive A-level results today after a 'tough' two years of learning.
Headteacher Helen Yapp was delighted with the grades the young people received and said she was proud of pupils and staff alike.
"They deserve it so much after the two years they have gone through," she said
One such pupil was Eleni Brinkley who, having achieved an A* in art, history and EPQ as well as an A in french, will begin studying at Edinburgh University later this year.
Alex Maughn, another high-achiever, bagged an A* in maths, chemistry and english literature as well as an A in german, and will now study at York University.
For more on their results click here.
Lowestoft Sixth Form
Lowestoft Sixth Form is celebrating a 97 per cent A-level pass rate as 'hard-working' students collect their results this morning.
Of the 97 per cent, 65 per cent achieved A*-C grades and more than a third bagged A*-Bs.
East Coast College Chief Executive Stuart Rimmer said: “We are celebrating today with our students and congratulate everyone who worked hard and who achieved their results in A Levels, BTECs and wider vocational qualifications through a difficult two years."
Lowestoft Sixth Form College, which is part of East Coast College, also celebrated success in its STEM subjects with 75 per cent of students achieving A*- B grades in Physics and 71.4 per cent achieving A* - B grades in Further Maths.
Kerry Payne, Principal of Lowestoft Sixth Form College, said: “We are very proud of our students’ achievements and the hard work and dedication they have demonstrated throughout their studies.
"This year’s students will progress onto fantastic destinations including a range of high-quality apprenticeship and degree programmes."
For more pictures and full details on the results click here.
Thomas Paine Sixth Form at Thetford Academy
Students at the Thomas Paine Sixth Form in Thetford are celebrating its best ever A-Level results, after seeing a 30 per cent increase in the number of grades at C or above versus the last set of exam results in 2019.
Overall, 80 per cent achieved grades A*-C with 100% of students achieving A*-C in Maths, English, Art, Portuguese, Spanish, Applied Science, Performing Arts and Sport.
Dan Carter, Principal of the Thomas Paine Sixth Form and Thetford Academy, said: “I’m very proud of our Year 13 students as they receive their exam results today. I’m pleased to say that these results have enabled the vast majority of our students to achieve places at their chosen university."
For more on their results, click here.
Bungay High School
Headteacher Chanel Oswick said: "Congratulations to all our students who have worked so hard during the past two years throughout challenging circumstances; they have shown that determination and diligence pays off.
"The overall pass rate for both A Level and Vocational courses, delivered at our impressive and inclusive Sixth Form, shows that this is one of our strongest years.
"We are delighted that our students will be successfully moving on to their chosen courses, further training and/or employment opportunities.
"The governors and I are incredibly proud of the fantastic support and ethos of our parents, staff and students, whose efforts are reflected in these results, and we could not thank them all enough.”
Felixstowe School
Felixstowe School is celebrating some impressive achievements today as sixth form students received their A-level results.
Numbers at the sixth form are continuing to increase, with 50 students taking exams this year, and the school has said they are impressed with the 'resilience, diligence and excellent approach to learning' this cohort has displayed.
Headteacher, Emma Wilson-Downes, said: “The past few years have been incredibly difficult for young people and our students have been incredible in rising to the challenges they have been presented with."
The sixth form recorded an overall pass rate of 93 per cent in A-levels only and 95 per cent including BTEC and other qualifications.
Meanwhile 56 per cent of A-level students scored A* to C grades, 71 per cent if BTEC and others are included.
For more on the school's results, click here.
One Sixth Form College in Ipswich
More than 640 students got their results today at One Sixth Form in Ipswich, with an overall pass rate of 96 per cent.
Forty-four per cent of students achieved an A* to B grade and 96 per cent an A* to E. One-hundred per cent of the BTEC students at the college passed their exams.
Dr Nikos Savvas, Chief Executive of Eastern Colleges Group, said: “Results day is the culmination of months of hard work and it marks the start of the next chapter for so many people.
"We are incredibly proud of our students and it’s particularly rewarding for us to see how we are enabling people to meet their goals, aspirations and contribute to society in so many different ways."
Jake Robson, the Head of Centre at Suffolk One Sixth Form, said: “This results day follows our new Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating, so it’s great to see these achievements come to life with our students gaining such brilliant results.
"It’s an emotional day for the staff too, seeing our students reach the end of their journey with us but we are of course here to support everyone with the next step."
Freddie King, 18 from Ipswich, is one of the first people in the country to benefit from a new scheme that aims to be a stepping stone to Cambridge University for those who have experienced disadvantage.
He said: “One Sixth Form College have helped me get this opportunity – I had no interest in Oxbridge (before One). But the teachers and my personal progress tutor helped me realise that I’m smart enough to go to an Oxbridge University and pushed me to achieve - and I’m really grateful for that.”
Abbie Griggs, 18 also from the town, not only bagged herself three A*s and an A, but also won an award at the annual Eastern Colleges Group Celebration of Achievement event in June.
She is staying at the college to do a level four art course to prepare her for university.
She said: “I’ve had a really good time at One – it’s been an enjoyable experience – the fact I’m staying here another year shows you how much I like it.”
For results from more schools in the Ipswich area, click here.
Mildenhall College Academy
The overall pass rate at Mildenhall College Academy was 99.5 per cent with the school still waiting on five results and so is yet to provide the percentage of students who secured A*-C grades.
Out of the 88 students in the cohort, 72 of them took at least one A-level.
For a full report on the school's results, click here.
One student who stole the show this year was Hadley Palmer, 18, from Mildenhall, who achieved A* in maths and As in computer science and further maths.
He is going to Loughborough University to study Computer Science and Maths which he described as a “big passion” of his.
Stowupland High School
Students picking up their results today are the first cohort to study at the new sixth form building, the John Milton Academy Trust, that opened in April.
Sixty seven per cent of pupils have confirmed their university places for September.
David Brewster, head of School at Stowupland High School, said he felt ‘exceptionally proud’ of all the sixth formers today.
For more pictures and individual results, click here.
Langley Sixth Form
Langley Sixth Form, close to Beccles, is celebrating after almost a third of students achieve A* to A grades.
With 31 per cent of grades coming in at A* or A and 61 per cent A* to B, the independent school has said the students worked 'extremely hard' and are now moving on to exciting pathways.
Click here for more details and pictures.
Headmaster Jon Perriss said: “I am delighted with the fantastic results produced by our A level students at Langley and proud of the effort and commitment that they have shown.
"They have had a tumultuous two years and shown immense resilience and courage in the face of adversity."
