We want to send congratulation to all of our students in Year 11 for what they have achieved over their time in the Upper School at Grace College.
Many of our students have been a credit to themselves and the Grace College community in the way that they have approached all of the challenges that the year has brought, remaining determined throughout the uncertainty of the first term and the time in lockdown. Many students engaged effectively with all of the support they could, both in school and virtually through the National Tutoring Programme. We can’t wait for many of them to return to College in the Sixth Form and to support them as they pursue their Level 3 qualifications. We are also excited about working with the students as they seek to grow in character by serving in leadership roles within the school community. For those students who will enter into post-16 apprenticeships or attend Further Education Colleges we are looking forward to hearing about their future successes and staying in touch in the years ahead.
This year, following the cancellation of exams, our teachers have worked to award grades through the ‘teacher assessed grades’ process. These grades were awarded against a national standard and have been approved and awarded by the awarding organisations (exam boards). In school we also worked hard to ensure that our grades were awarded consistently across the year group and we worked with the other schools in our family of schools to ensure that our students received accurate grades today on results day.
There are reasons for celebration throughout the year group. Our top achievers were Abdullah Abdullah Khalid, who achieved 8 Grade 9s at GCSE and a D* in Level 2 BTEC Enterprise, Aaron Slowther, who achieved 7 Grade 9s and a Grade 7 at GCSE, and a D* in Level 2 BTEC Enterprise and Katie Talbot Brown, who achieved 8 Grade 9s and a Grade 7 at GCSE.
It should be note that the government will not publish performance data for any school or college this year due to the varying impact of the pandemic.
I am so proud of what our Year 11 has achieved. The resilience and fortitude they have shown during two of the most difficult years known is simply amazing. I am so pleased they have achieved an outstanding set of qualifications to support them in their futures. I am delighted so many of them are opting to return to study in our Sixth Form. Whatever they decide to do, I know they will succeed and I wish them all the very best.