THE hard work and achievements of west Wiltshire pupils have been praised by their schools in an extraordinary year in which they were unable to sit their A level examinations.
After exams were cancelled due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, grades this summer were awarded using a controversial algorithmic modelling system used by Ofqual, the education regulator.
They were based on the results of mock examinations earlier this year, teachers’ assessments of what pupils might achieve and, controversially, their school or college’s previous exam results.
This meant that around 280,000 pupils across the country had their marks downgraded, leading to calls for the system to be changed and many schools saying they would appeal the downgraded marks.
Fergus Stewart, head teacher at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, said: “We are immensely proud of all our students and their A level achievements. They worked very hard for their grades and fully deserve great credit.
“Despite all the national arguments about methodologies, it is essential that we all acknowledge, applaud and affirm what our students have achieved.
“They have done really well across the range of grades and the results overall are in line with those achieved in recent years.
“Particular congratulations are due to the 23 students who swept the board with A* or A grades in all their subjects.”
Paul Skipp, head teacher at John of Gaunt School, said: “We recognise that this has been a really challenging time but we are delighted to see that the dedication and hard work of our young people has enabled them to move on to their chosen destinations.”
“Staff, students and their parents have worked tirelessly together this year. I am so pleased that the futures of our Year 13 students looks so positive, despite the challenge of the last few months. They are a wonderful group of individuals and we wish them all the very best.”
Mr Skipp said 40 out of their 48 students had been accepted by their chosen first choice universities, with the other eight students opting for gap years, art foundation courses or employment.
He added: “As a school we continue moving from strength to strength, the achievement and attainment continues to rise each year, we have a lot to celebrate and are now looking forward to even further success.”
Rob Price, head teacher at Clarendon Academy in Trowbridge, said: “Over threequarters of our Year 13 students have successfully secured a place at university. For 93 per cent of those this was their first choice university.
“Our students choosing not to go to university will go on to a range of exciting destinations including the military.
“Despite all of the unforeseen challenges our students have faced this year, they have responded with resilience and maturity.
“We are incredibly proud of their achievements – and, more importantly, the people they have proven themselves to be.”
David Forster, head of St Augustine’s Catholic College in Trowbridge, said: “Congratulations to our Year 13 students on their excellent grades. “Although these grades have been awarded in truly exceptional circumstances, in most cases they reflect the hard work and commitment of our students throughout their sixth form courses and have enabled almost all students to access their choice of university or career path.
“Students have worked very hard with the support of their teachers and they and their families should be very proud of their successes.
“Overall results are in line with the high standards achieved in recent years, and we are particularly pleased that 24 per cent of entries achieved A* or A grades.
“All these results and the education received at St Augustine’s gives our students a strong foundation on which to build, develop and flourish in their future pathways.”
Rod Bell, head teacher at The Corsham School, said: “Although the methodology of awarding grades has had to be different this year, this should not detract from all the hard work of our amazingly talented Class of 2020 and we must acknowledge and congratulate them on what they have achieved.”
“We are exceptionally proud of all of our students’ achievements and we wish them every success in their future careers.”
The White Horse Federation, which runs Melksham Oak School, said it was “reticent to say it is pleased” with the results.
It criticised the education regulator Ofqual’s statistical approach based on past performance, saying it was unfair to pupils.
Chris Belli, executive secondary director of the White Horse Federation, said: “”The standardisation model is not sophisticated enough on a student by student basis.
“It is with more than a tinge of disappointment to see the results on a subject by subject basis.
“Some subjects results have been capped based on the performance of other students so I am reticent to say I am pleased with the process.”
He said Melksham Oak had a lower number of grades affected by the system than other schools in the group and had shown improvement on the previous year.
He also added that the majority of grades put forward by teachers had been met. The school was now schools are now assessing each student’s results and had staff on remote stand by to help advise on next steps.
Warminster School said: “We are delighted with the A level results and that they reflect the hard work of the pupils throughout the last two years.
“It is also pleasing that the professionalism and knowledge of the pupils that Warminster School staff have shown has been recognised by the exam boards in the vast majority of outcomes.
“Knowing that this was a strong academic cohort, we are thrilled that our pupils achieved a 97 per cent pass rate, as well as two thirds of grades being awarded at A*-B.”
Warminster School headmaster, Matt Williams says: “In my first year as Headmaster, I have been blessed with a fantastic Upper Sixth cohort, who thoroughly deserve to have achieved at a high level.
“They have had the most unfortunate end to their time at Warminster, but have dealt with the last few months stoically and with great resolve and optimism.
“I am delighted that their futures look bright, despite the uncertainty of the present and the difficulties of the past.”
This is Wiltshire
The post Many pupils across west Wiltshire will go to their first choice universities appeared first on Bradford on Avon Community Website.