A-level students excel in the face of adversity
GUERNSEY’S sixth-formers celebrated success in the face of adversity yesterday as schools and the College of Further Education reported an unprecedented 100% A-level or equivalent pass rate after two years in which the students’ studies were blighted by pandemic-induced lockdowns.
With no board-set formal exams this year it was down to the teachers to deliver assessments themselves, seeing them having to teach the subjects, set the exams, moderate them and then grade them against a national standard.
The results saw every student getting an A*-E pass grade, with 45.7% getting A* or A.
This was a different process again to last year’s exams, which had seen teacher assessment brought in at the last minute following a failed attempt to have grades assessed by computer.
‘Over the past year it has been wonderful to observe teachers and students energetically engaging with the rigours of A-level study,’ said Blanchelande principal Robert O’Brien.
‘They will be delighted to discover that many of them have achieved top grades.’
Elizabeth College principal Jenny Palmer paid tribute to the staff as well as students.
‘Our teachers have worked tirelessly through virtual school and on return, meeting the huge challenge of the teacher assessed grades, to ensure students were ably supported and are able to progress onto the pathway they have chosen,’ she said.
‘Students have demonstrated resilience, flexibility and a willingness to meet challenges and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future.’
Ladies’ College students ‘kept their feet on the ground and kept a sense of humour all the way through’, said principal Ashley Clancy.
The school saw 20 of its students earn straight A* or A grades.
The only state provider of academic post-16 courses in the island is the Grammar School & Sixth Form Centre.
‘We are delighted that these initial data suggest our students, who come from a wide range of backgrounds, have made progress well above the national average,’ said principal Kieran James.
The College of Further Education saw a 3% improvement in its results for the students taking the two-year Level Three technical professional qualifications, taking the overall pass rate up to 100%.
‘This is an outstanding achievement for our students and staff,’ said principal Louise Misselke.
‘I know that the whole college team supported our students during what has been a challenging year and we are all delighted with each student’s achievement.’
Figures released by Education, Sport & Culture showed that the overall pass rate last year was 99.8%, making this year’s success the first time the 100% mark had been reached.
In terms of Level Three vocational and technical results alone, the highest figure attained in recent years was 97% and last year the figure was 94%.
ESC president Andrea Dudley-Open said that after such a challenging year for all the students the strong results were excellent news.
‘The second lockdown and the ongoing pandemic have just added to the challenges this cohort of students have faced in recent years.
‘And the fact they have achieved such strong results reflects how hard they have worked to overcome those challenges,’ she said.
The new grading system had put extra pressure on teaching staff and Deputy Dudley-Owen said: ‘I would like to thank them all for their extremely hard work in assessing all of the students in a professional way.
‘I, and the rest of the committee, would like to offer my congratulations to everyone involved.’
