First A Level Examination Results Since Covid
A Level students received their results yesterday, marking the return to formal examination assessment for the first time since 2019.
For this year’s cohort, it was their first ever experience of sitting exams, with GCSEs having been cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Despite the many challenges of the past two years, including lockdown, remote teaching and learning, and illness due to the virus.
This year, The Henley College’s overall A Level pass rate is 96%, equivalent to 2018/19, when students last sat A Level exams. There was a drop however compared to 2020/21, as experienced nationally, when students were awarded teacher-assessed grades. Compared to 2020/21, the number of students achieving A*-A dropped by 12.7% to 17.3%, although increasing by 5% on 2018/19. The number of students achieving A*-C dropped by 14.8% to 64.6%.
There have been many fantastic stories of personal achievement, and students who have now happily secured their future places at university, in exciting new careers, and in apprenticeships.
Former Student Union President, Chris Wahlen (pictured above), achieved 3 x A* in A Level Computing, German and Maths, securing his offer of a place at the University of Bath to study an Integrated Masters in Computer Science and AI. Chris said “I am really happy about my results. I feel I’ve managed to achieve the best I possibly could, and I am looking forward to my future studies.”
Libby Hooper from Henley-on-Thames earned 3 x A* grades in A Level English Literature, History and Politics and is heading to Cambridge University to study Ancient History and Classical Archaeology. Libby said: “I am over the moon with my results! The College have been really supportive, and the online learning was very helpful. Being a student at Henley was an excellent experience.”
Principal and CEO, Satwant Deol, commented: “I am very pleased to see our students performing at least as well as, and in some cases better than our students in 2018/19, before the pandemic. We are so proud of the resilience our students have shown to overcome the many challenges they faced during the past two years due to Covid. We are also very proud of the part the College has played in teaching our students resilience and enabling them to achieve and progress. Progression to university and into apprenticeships looks strong. We have so many students who have achieved fantastic grades, securing their chosen destinations. I would like to wish all our students the very best in their next steps and in the future.”
At Shiplake College the headline results were above the national averages with 41% achieving A*-A or equivalent, 68% A*-B or equivalent and 92% A*-C or equivalent. This is an outstanding set of results in which the average UCAS points generated per pupil is 132, which is close to AAB.
Headmaster at Shiplake College, Tyrone Howe said: “I am extremely proud of this year group. The class of 2022 has been exceptionally brave and resilient in terms of having faced continuing challenges and almost constant uncertainty throughout their sixth form years, on top of not sitting GCSE examinations, due to the COVID pandemic. They have come through that period in such strong shape and I am delighted at how well they have performed.”
In addition to all the personal success stories, particular congratulations to the following individuals for their outstanding performances: Jake Birch with 2A*s and 2As (Economics and Econometrics at Bristol); Sam Waller with 3A*s and 1A (Medicine at Brighton and Sussex); Georgina Garner with 3A*s (Sustainable Development at Edinburgh); Abi McCarthy with 3A*s (Biosciences at Manchester); Merry Oakes with 2A*s and 1 Distinction* (Education Studies and Psychology at Durham); Jack Lynskey with 1A*, 1A and 1 Distinction* (Business Management and Marketing at Cardiff); Sophie Murray with 1A*, 1A and 1 Distinction* (Business Management at Southampton); Charlie Neale with 1A*, 1A and 1 Distinction* (Geography at Newcastle); Milo Connolly with 1A and 2 Distinction*s (Property Development at Nottingham Trent); and Will Taylor with 1A and 2 Distinction*s (Graphic Design at Loughborough).
This year there were results in 28 different A Level subjects and five BTEC subjects, with Geography and Psychology the most popular A Level courses. Art, Drama, Sociology, Further Mathematics, Spanish and Computer Science all achieved 100% A*-B, with many other departments maintaining 100% A*-C, including Politics (with 80% A*-B), Criminology (76% A*-B) and English Literature (75% A*-B).
