Bucking the trend

PETER Symonds College has bucked the national trend with A-level results that are as high as they were last year.

This year’s pass rate at the Winchester college is more than 99 per cent – with 40 per cent of the grades awarded being A* or A.

College principal Sara Russell said: “This year group has had an educational experience like no other – the first to have its GCSE exams cancelled, and the first to be asked to sit full A-level examinations, and all sorts of Covid arrangements to navigate in between.

“Against a national drop in A-level performance, we are proud that we have bucked this trend and our students’ grades are as high as last year.

“Indeed, the proportion of A* grades has actually increased with almost 1,000 securing this top grades.

“I can’t begin to tell you how delighted I am for them.

“The results you see today are the best ever attained by our students.

“It is a very proud day for the college, the staff and the parents, but above all, it is a remarkably proud day for our students.

“Their tireless hard work, focus and dedication really has paid off. I am thrilled.

“This shows that Symonds remains the perfect place for ambition.”

The proportion of the very highest grades (A*, A, B) is 67 per cent and A*-C is 85 per cent.

A total of 40 per cent of grades awarded were at A* or A and 16 per cent were the very top A* grade – with 854 A* grades overall.

In the new T-level qualification, there was a 100-per-cent pass rate, with 10 out of 11 students gaining a distinction grade.