Teenagers across Lancaster and Morecambe celebrate A-level results after Covid upheaval throughout sixth form

This year, following the cancellation of exams, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards.

The government is not publishing performance data for any schools or colleges this year due to the varying impact of the pandemic.

However, it has been reported that top grades for A-level results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have reached a record high - with 44.8 per cent getting A* or A grades.

This second year of replacement results has seen even higher results than last year, when 36.5 per cent achieved top grades.

Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School staff have said congratulations to their "fantastic Year 13 students" as they received their results.

"We are so proud of their achievements at such a difficult time, when they have faced so many challenges in their time in the sixth form," they said.

"In many ways they can feel even more of a sense of achievement despite the external exams being cancelled. They have had to show considerable resilience, motivation and commitment, all qualities, which will serve them well as they go forward in the next stage of their lives."

LGGS head Jackie Cahalin said: "We will really miss our departing Year 13 students. We are so proud of how they have pulled together and supported each other. We will remember them for their kindness to each other. We are delighted with their outstanding achievements.

"Many thanks to all the staff at Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School who have worked tirelessly to ensure our students are all able to progress onto their next steps, whether that be higher education, apprenticeships or employment."

Assistant headteacherJen Pardoe added: "LGGS students will now be studying an impressive range of courses at universities throughout the UK and abroad.

"These include Aerospace Engineering, Dance, Sustainable Development and Dentistry. We are also hugely proud of our students who will be going on to prestigious apprenticeships, at firms such as Dyson and PWC, and to gap years.

"Overall Year 13 should be commended for having the confidence to pursue their own individual ambitions and we are honoured to have supported such a talented and diverse year group."

Ripley St Thomas principal Catherine Walmsley said: "We are very proud of all our Year 13 students who have done exceptionally well in what has been a very challenging year. We wish them every success in their futures beyond Ripley."

Students at Bay Leadership Academy are celebrating their A-level achievements after overcoming a year of pandemic disruption.

Talented student Sheldon Leigh, who achieved A levels in English Literature (A) and History (A) and a BTEC Photography (Distinction), has secured a place to study English Literature and History at Bangor University.

Sheldon’s talent was recognised by the university, who awarded him a £2,000 scholarship after he proved his ability in a scholarship exam.

Sheldon said: “I’m really pleased with the grades I got and so proud that I can go to my first choice university with the confidence that I can do anything that I put my mind to.”

Teachers say that Sheldon is a model student, who even found the time to work part time and volunteer for charity alongside his studies. Sheldon was selected as the school’s Head Boy thanks to his excellent character and the support he offered to fellow students.

Deputy Head Boy Mason Cowie was awarded A levels in Chemistry (B), Mathematics (C) and Biology (C) as well as an AS level in Mathematics (B).

Throughout his studies, Mason was highly supportive of his fellow students across different year groups at the school and was an excellent role model to younger students.

The caring pupil attends an LGBT youth group at a local church to try and help people in need of support. He has participated in many charity events in school and in the wider community.

Mason said: "I am very happy to be going to university, and I am looking forward to the new experiences and friends I will meet. Thank you for all of your support.”

Mason will study chemistry at university, and aims to enter a career in pharmaceutical developments, where he will use the problem solving and logic skills he has gained from his studies.

For Poppy Stewart, her A-level results meant that she would be the first person in her family to be offered a place at university. The talented Head Girl achieved A levels in History (A), Chemistry (B) and Biology (B).

Teachers say that throughout her time at the school she demonstrated compassion and leadership skills and took part in charity events such as the senior citizens afternoon tea party. She also volunteered for the local hospice for over a year.

Poppy will go on to study bio-medicine as it lies at the heart of scientific breakthroughs and provides a wide variety of careers within the medical research sector.

After her undergraduate studies, Poppy plans to complete a postgraduate qualification to further her studies and become more specialised in her career of choice.

Colette Roberts, principal at Bay Leadership Academy, praised this year’s cohort of A-level students, who she said had worked exceptionally hard during times of stress and uncertainty.

She said: “This past year has presented many challenges to the students and staff at our school. Yet despite these challenges, our school community has demonstrated its mettle time and time again.

“Our pupils and staff have worked exceptionally hard, not just in their studies but also to care for one another so that we can all go on to achieve our very best.

“I am immensely proud of our school community and all that it has achieved and would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who has supported these efforts.

“Congratulations to all our students and thank you to our staff and parents for going the extra mile during these difficult times.”

Alexia Barnes, vice principal and head of sixth form at Carnforth High School, said: "We are extremely proud of the excellent results achieved by Year 13 at Carnforth High School this year.

"Carnforth students have, once again, risen to the challenge, achieving higher than national average grades overall.

"This was the best set of results the school has ever achieved and is a credit to the students and staff who have worked incredibly hard under very difficult circumstances. All subjects achieved a pass rate of 100 per cent with art A-level achieving 100 per cent A* and BTEC Sport achieving 100 per cent Distinction*.

"The highest achieving students in 2021 are Hannah Robinson, Penny Davis and Abi Atkin, who achieved 100 per cent A*/Distinction*. Once again, all students who applied, have had their places confirmed at university.

"Results this strong would not be possible without the hard work of the staff and students at Carnforth High School and we would like to thank everyone who has been part of our success."

Our Lady’s Catholic College is pleased to report some outstanding achievements by its students in their A-levels and other level 3 qualifications this summer.

As well as all our students succeeding despite the challenge Covid has presented the school is particularly proud of the following students who have done exceptionally well:

Luke Hodgson gaining A* grades in chemistry, maths and physics

Isaac Bates gaining A* grades in biology and chemistry and a grade A in maths

Ellie Shepherd gaining A* grades in sociology and religious studies and a grade A in English language and literature

Kathryn McCafferty gaining A grades in religious studies and English language and literature and a D* in Sport

Jessica Davies gaining D* grades in business studies, health and social care and travel and tourism

Helen Seddon, the college’s headteacher, said: “We are immensely proud of all the work and achievements of our students, especially after such a difficult and disrupted sixth form experience.

"Our teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure students are all able to progress onto further education and study, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future."

Lancaster Royal Grammar School sent its congratulations to all its Sixth Form students who received their A-level results. This was the school's first co-educational year group to complete the A-level course.

Headmaster Dr Chris Pyle said: “Huge congratulations to our students on these outstanding A-level and Pre-U results, which reflect their work and ability throughout the course. It is excellent to see them progressing to a wonderful array of university courses and other opportunities. Very well done to every single one of our students!

“We are immensely proud of our students for the determination that they have shown despite all the disruption to their Sixth Form education. They are a multi-talented and hard-working group of young people who deserve great credit.

"They have supported one another brilliantly and contributed much to the school and wider community. They are particularly special as our first co-educational year group.

“Thank you to staff who have guided pupils through the past two years, providing the exceptional teaching and pastoral care which are the hallmarks of Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

“Very best wishes to our Sixth Form students as they celebrate today’s outstanding results and prepare for the exciting next stage of their journeys. I know that they will go from strength to strength.”

At Dallam School, headteacher Rachael Williams said: "Cumbrian schools are proud to serve our children, their families and the communities they come from. This year the situation with Covid-19 and the shutdown of schools in March makes this results day unique.

"The grades the students are receiving are the result of the national standardisation of centre assessed grades we submitted back in June. We hope that the students believe they have received grades that reflect their hard work and depth of learning throughout their courses. We congratulate them all on the manner in which they have coped in these quite extraordinary times.”

“The majority of students will be pleased with their results and will have the keys to go onto to their anticipated destinations in September.

"We acknowledge that for some they may be disappointed and those students may wish to prove that they can do better in the Autumn exam series and it is essential that schools across Cumbria all support students to do that if they wish.

"It will be a challenge with the restrictions in place in September in schools but there will be a determination to make sure each individual student has every opportunity available to maximise their grades.”

“The DFE have cancelled Performance Tables for this year and there will be no amalgamated headline results published for schools, which is right and proper given the circumstances around the exams this year. There is no doubt that leaves the focus on those that really deserve it, the people we should all be congratulating; the students.

“Our students, the children of our wonderful county and schools, are also more than the sum of their grades and so today we want to celebrate the individuals who have shone for all sorts of reasons.”

Pleasing results were achieved by many including:

Luke Howarth – achieving A*, A*, A, A, off to study History at Lancaster University.

Donna Xu – achieving A*, A and Distinction*, off to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

Ashley Lau – achieving A*, A, A, off to study Medical Sciences at the University of Exeter.

Amy Evans – A, A, A, off to study Primary Education at Northumbria University. Amy has embodied the school value of ‘endeavour’ throughout her studies and is the number one student for progress throughout the Sixth Form.

Head students James Roberts and Bethany Dixon embodying the schools value of ‘compassion’ - caring both for the wellbeing of the school student body while working hard to both achieve A, A and Distinction*.

Heather McClurg, principal at Morecambe Bay Academy, said: "We are delighted with the results that our Year 13 students have achieved. This set of results is reflective of the hard work and determination of our Sixth Formers in the face of some very difficult times.

"It also reflects the hard work and dedication of their teachers to ensure that students received the very best education possible throughout the pandemic and is illustrative of the improvements that are taking place across the academy.

"These students have experienced two full lockdowns with further disruption to learning due to periods of self-isolation. We feel it is also important to acknowledge and thank our families for being so supportive, particularly during the extended lockdowns when this was so important

"Throughout this, our students have risen to the challenges presented to them: engaging with online learning, navigating ‘Teams’ remote lessons and having to spend a lot of time studying alone. We are immensely proud of all of them and today has been an extremely happy occasion.

"Almost all our students have secured their first choice of university, with many achieving results that exceeded their offer. Nine of our students achieved straight A -A* grades across their subjects and one student achieved A* in all his subjects.

"We wish them well on the next stage of their career path and look forward to seeing them again for Awards Evening later in the year and catching up with all their news."