Oswestry students celebrate after a turbulent year due to Covid-19

Term time throughout 2020 and 2021 was moulded by varying Covid-19 restrictions and several lockdowns imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in phases of home-learning and adapted exam periods.

Despite the unusual year, it culminated in feelings of relief for many students who achieved their expected grades on Tuesday morning.

The Marches School

The Marches School headteacher Alison Pearson gave a special mention to the resilience and determination of pupils in the Class of 2021.

She said: “It’s been a challenge, simply because of the lack of clarity from the government really.

“We needed to shield the students from that and be a voice of reassurance, confidence and clarity for the students.

“Staff have been brilliant – it has been a challenge of course, with things often changing last-minute, but everyone here has responded to those challenges.

“This year’s students are a really resilient group and we’re really, really proud of them.

“They have supported each other and the staff have been very supportive too, ensuring that any wobble was spotted quickly and dealt with.

“They’re off – it’s done and they’ve got their results. They’re off to some really exciting places and they’re going to have a brilliant time I’m sure.”

Students at The Marches School celebrate

Marches student Melissa Chapman had reason to smile after achieving two As and a B in Biology, Geography and Psychology.

Despite the altered schedule throughout her final year of studying at sixth form, she will now be heading to the University of Bristol to study biology.

Melissa said: “I am happy with the results. I think I preferred doing A Levels like this because it was a lot less stressful having mini exams through the year rather than having big exams at the end of the year.

“I would’ve preferred it to have been normal as we missed about half of sixth form because of the situation we were in.

“I didn’t mind the home learning, but it’s not the same.”

Fellow Marches student Martin Petrov achieved grades A, B and C in his subjects of Maths, Media and Geography, and is looking forward to studying at either the University of Lougborough or University of Worcester.

He praised the teachers at Marches School for their support throughout the year.

“It was difficult in terms of being a bit different to what was expected from our Sixth Form experience, but in terms of the work it wasn’t as difficult as having something like nine exams,” he said.

“The staff were really helpful throughout the year – they were really concerned about us.

“They engaged with us a lot more and tried to help us out in the right way.”

Students will also be looking ahead to other pathways out of education, with Marches student Harry Cass set to join the Royal Navy.

Harry found the exam period, which included in-class tests as opposed to end-of-year exams, less stressful.

He said: “Motivation for online learning was definitely a struggle – I think I may have coped with it better than some people.

“I found it a lot less stressful compared to the exam experience we’re used to, like we had at GCSE for example.

“I did prefer it this way – it didn’t necessarily impact my results, but I found it more comfortable this way.”

Oswestry School

An exceptionally strong year group of Oswestry School Upper Sixth leavers were robbed of their ‘cup final’ in the examinations room but Julian Noad, headmaster, was delighted with the way that all stuck with their studies through lockdowns and disrupted learning. 
The school was celebrating as 50 per cent of its pupils secured top A* or A grades. 
Mr Noad said: "We are very proud of every pupil’s endeavour. The clear careers guidance has helped ensure that the vast majority of pupils have secured their first choice university place or career path.
"We are thrilled for our pupils and that their hard work and resilience has truly paid off and set them up for the next chapter, wherever that may be."
 He continued: "They leave Oswestry School well-equipped to follow successful careers and play their part in societies all around the globe. They are deserving of huge praise for their academic achievements but also their wider contributions to the co-curriculum and our community at large. 
"We thank them all and wish them every future success and happiness."

Moreton Hall School

Students at Weston Rhyn-based Moreton Hall are also celebrating a stellar set of A Level results.

It was a day to remember for student Nancy Armstrong Twigg, who achieved three A* grades.

Principal George Budd reflected on an ‘unparalleled year’ and praised the staff, families and students involved.

He said: “I am hugely proud of all of our families, staff and students who overcame the challenges facing them and responded with admirable stoicism and creativity to ensure that they remained on track and our students were able to achieve the results they deserved.”

Ellesmere College

Ellesmere College students were celebrating with a 100 per cent pass rate at A level and BTEC Diploma, a pleasing conclusion to a very difficult year. 

Brendan Wignall, headmaster, said the results this year are "testament" to how students and teaching staff have coped and adapted to increased levels of uncertainty, new methods of teaching, remote learning andself-management of their learning and teaching schedules.    

He said: “It is a pleasure to see how well pupils have achieved and they are commended for their positive approach to our online lessons when the country went into lockdown. 

"We continued teaching our full timetable using Microsoft Teams for remote learning and were pleased to welcome most students back for the final term, although some had to continue working online due to the pandemic. 

"These results are a testament to their hard work and determination, to the diligence of their teachers and the constant support of parents.”

Llanfyllin High School

Outstanding exam results were also celebrated at Llanfyllin High School, where numerous students managed to achieve multiple A* grades.

It was a particularly pleasing morning for Niamh Jones whose results guaranteed her a place at Oxford to study English.

Arthur Juhu Davies, Sion Lewis, Twain Price and Will Prust all achieved three A*s and an A, while Ruth Jones attained two A*s and an A.

Pictured are Head Boy and Girl, Sion Lewis with 3 x A* 's and an A and Joanna Savage with 2 x Distinction *, 2 x A*'s and 1 x A. Picture by Phil Blagg Photography.

Adcote School for Girls

Adcote School for Girls students achieved standout A Level results with 73.5 per cent of grades being A* to A.

Nearly 58 per cent of candidates were awarded straight A*and A grades across the board – an increase of 16 per cent on last year’s results.

The overall pass rate was 100 per cent, with 91.8 per cent of all results receiving grades A* to B.

More than half of the degree courses chosen by students cover the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Headmistress Diane Browne said: “These results were subject to the highest levels of scrutiny and are testimony to the hard, conscientious work undertaken by our students.

“The amount of evidence that had to be submitted to support the veracity of these grades was far in excess of previous years and represented significant extra stress for this year's cohort of A level students.

“The resilience they had to show is a credit to them and their universities are lucky to have them. We are thrilled for them all and so proud of them."