Our Upper Sixth pupils are celebrating an outstanding set of A-Level and BTEC results this morning with a pass rate of 100% and the vast majority of pupils securing places at their first choice of university. 63% achieved A* - A in their A-Levels with 83% gaining A* - B. 

Pupils are going on to study a wide range of degree courses including Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, English and Ancient History at prestigious universities including Russell Group members Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Nottingham, Queen’s Belfast and Southampton, with some choosing more practical courses including Carpentry and others taking a gap year or going straight into the workplace.

Head Boy Samuel achieved three A*s in Biology, Chemistry and Geography and has secured a place at Anglia Ruskin University where he will study Medicine. 

“It has been a strange year, as we expected, and it’s been weird having to adjust and change how we learn every few weeks, but it’s fantastic that all the hard work has paid off and I think everyone’s really happy!” 

Another of those to have excelled is Head Girl Poppy, who also gained three A*s in Economics, English Literature and Geography and will be reading English at the University of Bristol.

“I’m really, really happy!” said Poppy. “I think at the beginning when we didn’t really know what was happening it was a bit scary and unsettling but the teachers were so supportive, and in the end it just felt sort of ‘normal’ because we still did mock exams and our coursework so it didn’t feel too different to how I imagined.”

More success stories include George, who achieved AAA in Maths, Physics and Drama and will be going to the University of Surrey to study Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics; Jude, who gained A*AA in Physics, Chemistry and Maths respectively and is studying Aeronautics and Astronautics/Spacecraft Engineering at the University of Southampton and Fin, who achieved A*AA in Physics, Maths and History and will study Acoustical Engineering at the University of Southampton after taking a gap year.

“This year has had its benefits and it’s had its downsides,” said Fin, “but the Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) are a new way of assessing us and I think ultimately we’ve come out of this with results that aren’t too dissimilar to what we would have got if we had sat the exams, so I don’t think it’s been too detrimental.”

Across the board, our pupils have achieved highly, with A-Level subjects History, Drama, English Literature, Biology and Chinese all achieving 100% A* or A grades and Chemistry, Geography, Computer Science & Art gaining 100% A* - B grades.

“I am absolutely delighted with this year’s academic results and incredibly proud of all the Upper Sixth pupils, who have shown such positivity and resilience in another difficult year” said Caroline Kirby, Head at Shebbear College. 

“Their A-level achievements this year are outstanding and I am so pleased that so many of our pupils have secured places at their first choice of university. All examination year pupils have lived through such a tough time in the last 18 months and have been challenged by a totally different assessment system to the one they have been preparing for during their secondary school journey. Our excellent and supportive teachers have embraced the challenges alongside our pupils. Very well done to all."

Headline Stats:

• 31% of all A-Level grades are A*
• 63% of all A-Level grades are A* - A; 83% are A*- B
• 50% of all BTEC grades are Distinction* - Distinction
• 100% pass rate across the board
• Vast majority of pupils have secured places at their first choice of university