A-level special

Schools and colleges across the region celebrate record results as ZENA HAWLEY discovers the key for this cohort of learners is their resilience and determination to succeed

- 

It was a landmark moment in Derby Cathedral School’s history as pupils collected their A-level results for the very first time since the school opened in 2018.

It was double the celebration for Joseph Fleming, who marked his 18th birthday yesterday and today learned he had secured a coveted place at Oxford University to study history.

He achieved A grades in politics, history and maths, along with an A* in his extended project qualification (EPQ) on tuberculosis, a disease that claimed 1.2 million lives last year.

Joseph said: “Most people count down to their 18th birthday, but I was counting down to results day, so I'm going to celebrate properly tonight.

“My parents have been the biggest supporters of me and so they are absolutely thrilled. I hope to take a political history stance during my degree and eventually work for the civil service or in international notfor-profit healthcare.”

Freddie Robertson is off to Durham University after securing two As; Jennifer Morey is going to Imperial College, London and Yee Yan, who has only been in the UK for four years, after leaving her native Hong Kong is going to the University of Nottingham after achieving grade As in maths and further maths and Bs in physics and computer science.

In total, students picked up 27 A/A* grades and 70% of pupils achieved A*-B in their EPQ.

Head teacher Jenny Brown said: “It has been a seminal moment for the school and quite emotional for us to watch our very first cohort come to the end of their school life. There has been a great deal to celebrate, with every student who wanted to go to university securing a place.”

Derby College

The majority of students have secured the grades needed to progress to their first-choice university. More than 75% of the 327 A-level students receiving results have achieved higher grades.