THE headteacher at St Augustine’s High School in Redditch Gerald O’Connor has saluted the efforts of his A Level students.
With the results based on a controversial computer algorithm due to the suspension of schooling caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been disputes nationwide of how well the results actually match the efforts of the UK’s youngsters.
It’s left many schools and students feeling they were unfairly marked down.
At St Augustine’s from a group of 99 students 83 have a confirmed university place and 16 have gained a higher level apprenticeship position or employment.
A third of students will be attending Russell Group universities, made up of 24 of the country’s world class centres of learning.
In all 50 per cent of students obtained their first choice of university.
Mr O’Connor said: “We are immensely proud of our students, not just of the extremely high calibre destinations they will be studying at, but also the life skills that they have learnt throughout the process – aspiration, teamwork and resilience.
“Despite the uncertain times, they are now in an excellent position to look forward and focus upon the next stage of their future.
“An enormous thank you must go out to our whole school community, to the specialist teaching staff who inspired them, the pastoral team who skilfully guided them at times of need and to parents and carers for their unrelenting support.”
At Tudor Grange Academy, headteacher Jodie Bolter said like many other schools in Worcestershire they were not issuing a major statement due to the interruption by the pandemic, but briefly added: “We are very happy with our results, and all students have secured their first place destinations at university.”
