Hard work has ‘all paid off’ as students head to university

STUDENTS at Tonyrefail Community School have been celebrating their A-level success in the first exams after the Covid pandemic.

Many gathered at the school on Thursday, August 18 to find out their results in what were the first exams some had sat.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to a few students and the head teacher about the challenges of the past few years, their reaction to their results and what lies ahead next.

One such student was Iestyn Howells who got four As in biology, chemistry, business and economics.

He’s off to Cardiff University to study medical pharmacology and said he was “really happy” with his results and that it had “all paid off” now he knows he has got into university.

He said it was “a bit hard” as they missed some stuff at AS level but he said the teachers did a good job of making sure they knew everything that they needed to know adding “I just got on with it.”

Conor Thomas received two As in criminology and business and two Bs in law and film and is off on a full time professional football scholarship to Chippenham.

He said: “I am shocked. I didn’t think I’d do this well.”

He added that there was obviously talk everywhere on social media about whether or not they were going to be scrutinising the results or be more lenient.

He said: “Well whatever they’ve done it’s worked in my favour so happy days.”

Conor said it’s been quite overwhelming sitting the exams for the first time but he said the school has helped them massively and that his and others’ results show that.

Megan Jones achieved an A* in criminology, an A in computer science, a B in medical science and a C in chemistry and is off to study digital forensics and cyber security at UWE (University of the West of England) and is looking forward to it.

She said: “I was not really expecting to get this. I don’t really know how to feel.”

She added that it has been a bit strange and going back to exams has been really weird.

Ffion Jones got an A* in psychology, an A in biology and an A in IT and is off to Bristol University.

She said it was “overwhelming” and that she doesn’t really know how to feel.

Owen Byrne got A*s in computer sciences and business and As in history and maths.

He is off to Swansea and said he was surprised with some of the results but said “it definitely feels good.”

Although he said the exams were weird to do, he added he has never minded doing exams.

Kora Lewis got A*s in maths and Welsh Baccalaureate and As in biology and chemistry which has set her up for a pharmacy degree at Cardiff University.

She said she is “chuffed” and “so happy” but that it has been difficult.

She said the teachers have been brilliant adding “any time you need something, they are there for you.”

Head teacher at the school Heather Nicholas said: “We are delighted.”

She said the students were “extremely well prepared” and are now reaping the rewards adding that they “couldn’t be happier for them.

Ms Nicholas said these are the first exams some had sat adding that she is happy with how the students have been supported and that they were very fair exams.