QEGS PUPILS MAKE THE GRADE
A-LEVELS RESULTS DAY SPECIAL
SMILES and celebrations rounded off a year of challenges and disruptions at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, as our students were rewarded for hard work and dedication with a “outstanding” set of A-level results.
Youngsters started arriving early yesterday morning at The Green Road school for this year’s results day, and staff at the school say they are delighted to see so many year 13s leave with a smile on their face and a host of opportunities lying ahead.
Head teacher Scott Garrity has praised the “will-power and desire of all the students”, who have had to overcome a series of lockdowns, the challenge of remote learning, and the disruptions of constant changes to their schedules.
But, he says, their contributions to the school shows, music concerts, fund-raising events, sport events, exhibitions and challenges that have been able to go ahead, has spoken volumes for their resolve and determination.
He said: “We are immensely proud of all the work and achievements of our students, especially after such a difficult and disrupted year.
“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.
“To ‘be the best you can possibly be’ takes more than just academic success.
“Students need to be happy, with a healthy body and mind and we hope that QEGS has helped play a part in our students pursuing happy and successful lives.”
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, QEGS has announced some specific details which it felt were worthy of acknowledging and celebrating.
According to the school, almost three quarters of students completing A-levels and BTEC vocational courses intend to carry on their education at university with some of the most popular course choices being in Business, Economics, Maths and the sciences.
There are two students, this year, Sam Glossop and Angela Le, with a place at Oxford University.
Some students have also managed to secure prestigious apprenticeship places, some which have started already. Molly Murphy, for example, is working with digger giant JCB and Harriet Chamberlain will be working with pharmaceuticals firm Pfizer. Stand-out individual results this year have been led by Angela Le with 4 A* grades and Nicholas Farrand, Kiera Ryan, Adam Leigh and Emily
Pitts all who secured 3 A* grade plus one A.
Top performers in the BTEC vocational subjects include Triple Distinction Stars (D*D*D*) awarded to Marcus Phelan (Art), Megan Elliott (Sport), Megan Lewcock (Sport), Rob Loud (CDM), Emma Yeomans (CDM), Saria Biddlecombe-hawes (Business), Chloe Dumpleton (Business), Grace Hosking (Business) and Ewan Godfrey (Business).
Luke Walker, head of sixth form said: “We are extremely proud of all the great things that our students have achieved, in and out of the classroom, and would like to thank them for being a pleasure to work with in such difficult times.
“We would also like to thank our post-16 teaching staff and tutors who have worked tirelessly to ensure that our students have been kept informed of the ever-changing climate in education, ensuring that a positive and calm outlook remained throughout.”
Teachers and tutors were on hand at the school all day yesterday and will be working throughout the week to help students who need advice and support following their results.
Mr Garrity concluded: “Our vision remains. We care, we question, we explore, we give and we succeed together.
“In the post-covid era, while we face many untried and untested pathways, we know that with the support from home, school and the local community, we will all help make the impossible, just a little bit more achievable.
“Well done to all of our departing Yr13 for all your hard work throughout your courses, it has been a privilege to have known you all and we wish you all the best for the future.”
Our vision remains. We care, we question, we explore, we give and we succeed together.
Head Scott Garrity