Lewes Old Grammar School celebrates great A level results

Fifty-eight per cent of pupils achieved A-A* and 78 per cent achieved A*-B, a spokesman for the school said.

Robert Blewitt, headteacher, commented: “The very hard work of the vast majority of our students has been recognised in their calculated grades, many of whom achieved A*s and As.

“And for that, there is great relief that the long and difficult road that these students have had to take this year is over.

“Never has there been a year like this and I have been humbled by the maturity and calmness of my students in the face of great uncertainty about their futures.

“It is a huge pleasure to know that my A level students can now move forward and pursue their dreams without the great worry they have had on their shoulders since exams were cancelled in March.

“We do feel that we have strong grounds for appeal in some other cases, however, and we will be pursuing that.”

Beth Wilson, 18, breathed a sigh of relief after learning she had been awarded three A*s in physics, further maths and German, meaning she can take up her place at Cambridge University to study engineering.

She said: “It’s been such a journey. Initially I thought I had it in the bag when I thought it was all about teacher assessment because I know my teachers know what I am capable of.

“Then I realised that grades would be inflated nationally if just teacher assessment was used so I worried that the standardisation would bring my marks down and that made me panic.

“I hoped that because Lewes Old Grammar is a relatively small school, that would make the assessors look at us individually but I’m not sure that was the case. I am just happy it’s all over!”

Srija Ray will have to wait and see if she has got her place at Cambridge to study general engineering after being given A*A*AA in further maths, physics computing and maths respectively.

The 18-year-old said she felt relieved yesterday when she heard mocks could be used on appeal if grades today were not what she had hoped for but was happy with her results – she will wait until tomorrow evening to find out if she has her place at Cambridge.

She said: “It has been, without doubt, a very stressful time in my life but I’m just relieved the long wait since March for this day is over.”

Maia Hardman, 18, will be heading to Cambridge University to read veterinary sciences after bagging A*,A* and A in chemistry, maths and biology respectively.

She said: “The whole thing has been really stressful. There has been so much information out there about how they are going to arrive at the grades that it made it confusing and I just thought I hope they sort it all out in time.”

Julia Hinton, 18, received three A*s in French, Spanish and history meaning she will read modern languages at Cambridge.

She said: “I have been so worried that with the standardisation procedure that my grades were going to go down.

“Like all schools, the A level results at my school vary from year to year and I did not want to be judged on my abilities by how previous students have done.

“The government has had months and months to work this all out and I couldn’t believe they altered how they were doing things at the last minute yesterday, especially since so many schools didn’t even do mocks. Thank goodness it’s all over.”

Charlie Cooke, 18, was awarded three A*s in chemistry, biology and maths and will study dentistry at Liverpool University.

He said: “I am really happy with these grades, of course – and it feels a massive relief that I have got them at last.”

Jasmine Owen-Moulding, 18, broke down in tears as her dad Arthur stood by when she learnt she had received three As in her French, English and religious studies, meaning she has got her place at Edinburgh University to study French and philosophy.

She said: “I have been incredibly stressed about the whole thing and it has been so confusing reading what the government is going to do and how they are going to give our grades out.

“I heard about the mocks triple lock thing but was not sure if that would work as everyone did different types of mocks across different schools. And some didn’t do any at all.”

Her dad, Arthur, added: “Covid has been a very cruel thing for young people of this age, not just academically but socially too.

“Jasmine has been working in a deli which I hope took her mind off things a bit but it has been very hard.”

Olivia Welsh, 18, was awarded ABB in politics, history and English literature respectively and hopes to go to Royal Holloway to read politics and international relations and European studies.

She said the long wait since March had been stressful, and added: “I had to trust the system, it was the only way to stay sane.”

Her mum, Alex, said: “It has been really confusing her and us over the last 24 hours but Olivia has managed to stay calm and she has now been rewarded for her patience.”

Oskar Filskow, 18, received his ABB in economics, physics and psychology. He has arranged a gap year in Sweden studying music, returning to take up his place at Edinburgh to study cognitive sciences in 2021.

He said: “I have not really thought about it at all and when someone asked me how I felt yesterday I had to think what they meant.

“ I’m really pleased with my results and looking forward to a year out studying music for the first time in a completely different environment.”