Students at Cedars Upper in Linslade achieve strong A-level grades despite unique challenges of 2020

Headteacher Steve Palmer said there had been many success stories and students have been incredibly supportive of each other as they received their results today.

The results come after the government announced in the spring that exams had been cancelled due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and that student grades would be awarded based on official estimates from examination boards.

The school, in a joint statement from Mr Palmer with nearby Vandyke Upper School headteacher Tim Carroll, said: “Following a year of unprecedented circumstances and disruption, our students, who have shown admirable resilience, have been awarded their A-level and BTEC results today.

"They have coped superbly with such uncertainty and displayed great fortitude in unheralded times. They have faced much uncertainty and a constantly changing situation regarding their final A-level and BTEC grades.

“Students have been awarded grades by the examination boards following schools submitting ‘centre assessed grades’ for each student and it is clear that in all schools across the country some of these grades have been lowered by the exam boards' moderation process.

“Schools have the right to appeal grades that have been changed if they believe the criteria set out by the government have been met and students also have the opportunity to sit exams in the autumn term.

“The government has also announced that students can appeal to use mock exam grades if they are higher than the grades awarded today but we are waiting for further guidance as to how this process will work. Staff are now available to respond to students' queries and support their decision about their next steps.”

Cedars Upper School highlighted individual student successes:

Becky Phillips who is going to Cambridge University to study mathematics.

Liz Clarke who will read mathematics at Warwick University having secured four top grades.

Both Sean Rumble and James Axford, who have been friends for the last 14 years, will be going to Birmingham University. Sean will read medicine and James will read biomedical science.

Alex Hvass will be going to Leeds University to study philosophy.

Catherine Hamya is heading to the City, University of London to read a journalism degree.

Finn Deville secured top grades and will be beginning a politics degree at Exeter University.

Erin Bonser secured the highest grades in her fashion qualification and will be continuing with this subject at Leicester University.

Freddie Hughes is going onto Bristol University to study engineering.

Adam Gorry is looking forward to studying music tech at Surrey University.

Sam Mead will be studying to sport business management at Manchester University.

Riley Wells is going on to study biochemistry at Birmingham University.

Fifteen Cedars Upper School students have been awarded bursaries of up to £1,000 per year whilst studying at university thanks to the school’s partnership with the Connolly Foundation.

Adrian Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of The Chiltern Learning Trust, said: “The students have been fantastic over the past five years and deserve every success in the future, whatever their destination may be. As always we want to thank all of the parents and carers for their great support and all of the staff who have kept working so hard during these unusual times.”