Joy for students as borough bucks national trend in A-levels
There was plenty of celebration to be had as students across Hackney reunited with friends and teachers to collect their A-level and BTec results as Hackney schools outperformed the national average in the post-16 exams.
Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville, Deputy Mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble and the Council’s interim Director of Education Paul Senior visited schools across the borough yesterday morning to congratulate students on their results.
Our Lady’s High School student, Trisha Smith, 18, achieved a DDM in her Triple Health and Social Care BTec, and will be studying Childhood Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. She said: “I want to be a child therapist so I’m very happy with my results!”
Gillen Beckett, 18, from Stoke Newington High School achieved A*s in Sociology and Maths, and an A in his History A-levels. He said: “I’ve got everything I need for uni! It was nice to see my teachers before receiving the results so they could tell me everything has gone all right.” Gillen is planning to take a gap year before taking up his Maths and Philosophy course at Bristol University.
Provisional figures for A-levels show that pass rates in Hackney, at every grade, are above those achieved across the country.
Kevin Watson, Principal at BSix Sixth Form College, said: “Our A-level pass rate is the best we’ve ever had, and our vocational courses have had an increase in higher grades. Our teaching staff work very hard to make sure kids get the best chance we can possibly provide.”
Schools and colleges reported that the outcomes are generally in line with 2019 results. Nationally, the proportion of students receiving A or A* grades has fallen. Vocational results continue to provide a positive picture of progress. Many schools have seen strong Level 3 qualifications with some reporting 100% success rates with students achieving Merits or above particularly in BTecs.
Some schools have reported more than 90% of their students gaining their first preferences. The provisional national figure is 79%.
Congratulations to everyone who collected their exam results this week. I am really proud of the achievements and resilience of all of our students over the last two years. A big thank you as well for the hard work and dedication of families, teachers, staff and everyone working in all of our schools. I with our young people success in their future careers, whatever they go on to do next.
In sometimes challenging circumstances, our young people have achieved fantastic results again this year. Thank you to Hackney’s incredible teachers and all those inside and outside of our schools and colleges who have dedicated their time to supporting students through their exams and helping them achieve their full potential.