College ‘incredibly proud’ of GCSE and A-level students

FROME College has praised the ‘fantastic’ results achieved by its GCSE students.

And according to the college, both GCSE and A-level students have achieved some of the best grades the college has ‘ever seen’.

The news comes following a week of turmoil for students after there was confusion about how results were to be decided.

Prior to the GCSE results day, on Thursday 20th August, students faced an anxious wait to find out how their results would be calculated after A-level students – who collected their results the week before – had some results downgraded by exams regulator Ofqual.

Because both A-level and GCSE students were unable to sit their exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic, results were originally going to be based on the predictions of teachers. 

However, Ofqual’s use of an algorithm – which used a formula based on schools’ prior grades – to calculate students’ final grades resulted in around  40% of A-level results being downgraded, causing wide-spread upset for students across the country.

In response to the national outcry, the government made a U-turn, reverting back to the original plan to base results on the predictions of teachers in time for GCSE students to receive their results.

“Common sense has never been more welcome,” said principal Emma Reynolds in response to the U-turn.

About the results of its A-level and GCSE students, principal Emma Reynolds said, “We are incredibly proud of the achievements and progress of all our students as they receive outstanding GCSE and A-level results.

“Our young people should be applauded for all the years of academic work at college; we are delighted to have so many success stories to share this year. We always knew that these year groups and these individual students would make the most progress and achieve the best grades our college has ever seen. These results are a fair and just reflection of the work we all put into college life; students, families, governors and staff.

“Amongst our many Year 13 individual successes special mention must go to Grace Lindley, Ellie Richards, Barney Nuttall, Millie Barton, Mikaela Forrester, Arwen Wilkie, Tom Maccallum, Mikolaj Greszta, Tramaine Hughes and Kitty Peyton who between them achieved 27 A /A*grades and made tremendous progress over their 6th form careers here at Frome College.

“We are especially pleased with our brilliant A-level results in art, computing, photography, religion and philosophy, economics, graphics, French and drama – all of which attained a full 100% A*-C. Indeed in art, photography, maths and drama more than 45% of grades were at the very highest level of A*/A. This is an incredibly talented group of creative young people who deservedly receive these results.

“An equally fantastic set of results have been received by year 11, demonstrating the dedication and positive attitude of this year group. Particular congratulations for excellent progress must go to: Ella Breese, Esme Burgess-Brown, Josephine Cowley, Scott Douglas, Ella Evans, Bethany Fairhurst, Emily Hamblin, Georgia Hirons, Ethan Horn, Jacob Howell, Lottie Jones, Thomas Longhurst, Onni Macleay, Owen Marsh, Mary McClean, Lily L. Morgan, Jack J. Norris, William Norris, Hannah Oddy, Lydia Powell, Lucas Richards, Josh Seviour, Gus Slade and Brad Spicer.

“Our top performers: Madeline Blackburn, Holly Gilson, Olive Keech and Ruby Young between them achieved grade 9, the highest possible, in 30 subjects. Louise Benson, Andrei Bujor, Laura Curle, Alisha Fewell, Harry Forrester, Orrin Keep, Eva Morrissey, Oliver Robinson and Louis Walker all achieved a grade 7 or higher in all their subjects, an amazing accomplishment.

“Finally, and disappointingly, the government has failed to sort out the BTEC results in time for release today, which means our students still have to wait for these valuable qualifications. As soon as we are able, we will email BTEC results to our students.

“We look forward to warmly welcoming our new year 12 into sixth form on Monday 7th September and year 13 back to college on Wednesday 9th September. Above all, we wish all of our leavers the very best of luck for a bright future.”

Headline figures for GCSE level:  Percentage of level 9/8 13%; Percentage of level 9/7 26.5%; Percentage of level 9/4 83%; Percentage of level 9/1 99.5% 

Headline figures for A level: Percentage of A/A* grades 30%; Percentage of A*/B grades 57%; Percentage of A*/C grades 88%; Percentage of A*/E grades 98%