Burgess Hill Girls celebrate A level results

This year, with the absence of exams due to Covid-19, grades were arrived at based on teacher assessments and national standardisation.

Across the school’s students, 61 per cent of grades awarded were at A*-A and 82 per cent at A*B.

More than 60 per cent of girls gained A*-B in three or more of their A levels, with more than 80 per cent securing a place at their first choice on results day.

The school’s sixth form has students who will go on to study courses in subjects like law, medicine, geography, accounting, psychology and chemistry but also more unusual courses such as design for stage and screen, speech and language therapy, marine biology, international hospitality, fashion, and dance choreography.

Four students achieved three A* grades - Esme Godkin, Cathryn Barton, Francesca Arlett and Natasha Arbon-Stuckle. Esme studied art, English literature and religious studies, she will study an art foundation course at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College, following her aspirations to become an artist.

Cathryn studied classical civilisation, Latin, and English literature, she will take up a place studying classics at Cambridge University.

Francesca studied fine art, graphic arts and fashion & textiles, and will study fine art at Newcastle University.

Finally, Natasha, who studied economics, classical civilisation and maths, will study philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford.

Liz Laybourn, headteacher, said: “Without doubt, this year’s A level students will have had one of the toughest times in their lives, working so hard until March to secure the courses and careers of their dreams only to be told that exams were cancelled.

“So it feels very special to see so many happy faces today, the girls finally having clarity on where they are heading next.

“It has been a long and difficult wait for pupils so we are delighted that these wonderful A level results can enable this year’s cohort to move on with their lives and head off to their chosen universities.

“I would like to thank them, their parents and carers and my teachers for their exceptional attitude to the most challenging of circumstances.”