Secondary schools across Andover are joining forces this year to celebrate the achievements of the class of 2020. The collaborative approach has been designed to recognise students’ success beyond just their academic results.
The emphasis this year on GCSE results day will be to put other qualities and attributes in the spotlight such as personal responsibility, resilience and strength of character.
With the government cancelling the summer series of GCSE exams, Andover’s Year 11 students did not have the opportunity to independently determine their own academic outcomes. This year Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) asked schools to use their professional experience to make a fair and objective judgement of the grade they believe students would have achieved had they sat their exams. These judgements (called Centre Assesses Grades) were based on a full range of evidence including work done in class, non-exam assessments, course work and homework. To ensure the grades are fair between schools, the exam boards used a standardisation model developed with Ofqual.
Following the government U-turn on Monday students will received their Centre Assessed Grade unless the government’s computer algorithm gave a higher grade.
Determined to ensure today was a celebration across the town and in Stockbridge and that their students were recognised for their achievements and more, the Headteachers had the following to say:
Harrow Way Community School
Commenting on how this year has tested students in immeasurable ways Harrow Way Community School Headteacher Michael Serridge said: “We are incredibly proud of Harrow Way’s class of 2020 and we are proud of the results they have achieved. Unlike previous years though these students had to dig deep and find inner strength while coping with a very brutal end to their time here at secondary school.
They coped admirably with their exams, their last day at school and their prom all being cancelled. Being the class of 2020 is in fact a badge of honour and I hope all Year 11 students from Harrow Way and across our town wear that badge with pride. For me, they are the exceptional year group, the one which will take other qualities on to their further and higher education and their ultimate careers.”
Libby West – Harrow Way
Libby all 8 and 9s – will be studying Biology, PE and Psychology at Peter Symonds. About her results “I am so happy, I’m speechless!.”
Liam O’Riordan – Harrow Way
Liam got 8s and 9s, He is going to Symonds to studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths and hopes to go into Medicine.
Cameron Day – Harrow Way
Cameron is going to BCOT to study Catering (he got Distinction * in Catering).
Emily Cook – Harrow Way
All 8s and 9s. Emily is going to Peter Symonds to study Maths, Politics and Psychology. She is “delighted” with her results.
Harrow Way – Group pictures:
Liam O’Riordan, Cameron Day, Daniel Pashley (off to Peter Symonds to studying A levels inc Maths and Physics), Will Budden (off to Bishops in Salisbury to do Business, Maths and English), Libby West, Donna Doig (off to Andover College to do Performing Arts), Emily Cook, Ruby Pilford (off to Andover College to do Geography, Sociology and Sports Science), Abbie Ingram, Zac Marshall (off to Andover College to do Film Studies, English and Sociology).
John Hanson Community School
John Hanson Community School Headteacher Russell Stevens said: “I am incredibly proud of each and every one of our Year 11 students; it has been a difficult few months for them. They have been denied the opportunity to show the quality of their educational experience, by actually sitting their final examinations.
Just as importantly, they did not experience the celebratory ‘rites of passage’ that Year 11 students would in a ‘normal’ year – Leavers’ assembly and prom being the 2 stand out events, but also just getting to say goodbye. Therefore the opportunity to join us in school today to collect their results, is more important than ever. I wish them every success for the next stage of their educational journey, and I look forward to them returning in more normal times to tell me about their ongoing successes.”
Josie Ruan – John Hanson
Made the most progress of all students within the year group as well as achieving 5 grade 9s, 1 grade 8 and 5 grade 7s. Going to Peter Symonds to study A levels in Maths, Economics and Geography. Said: “Don’t be limited by your target grades. Mine where all 5s and 6s, but I achieve 7+ in every subject. ”
Rosie Mundy – John Hanson
Highest performing student in the year group – achieved 7 grade 9s, 2 8s and a 7.
Going to Peter Symonds to study A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and French. Said: “I am incredibly proud of by results and everything I have achieved.”
Adelle Gurr – John Hanson
Achieved 4 grade 9s, 4 grade 8s and a grade 7. Going to Andover College to study A levels in Graphic Design, Maths and Computer Science. Said: “I am optimistic about my future.”
Jack Strange – John Hanson
Achieved a grade 9, 5 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s. Going to Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School to study A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Said: “Proud to be the highest achieving boy in the year group.”
Archie Bragg – John Hanson
Achieved 4 grade 7s, 3 grade 6s and 2 grade 5s. Going to BCOT to study Engineering. Said: “I have not always found school easy, but I am proud of what I have achieved”
Smannell Field School
Amanda Edney Headteacher, Smannell Field School said: “We have been really pleased with all of our students who have, throughout the recent lockdown period, made significant efforts to quite literally ‘keep calm and carry on’. However, we are especially proud of our Year 11 cohort who have taken the disruption in their stride.
Many of our pupils have overcome considerable adversity over the past few years but have shown grit and tenacity, demonstrating real resilience and working right up until the last moment to ensure they achieve of their best. We will continue to work with our Year 11 students until they are settled and thriving in their new settings whether this be college, employment or training. They, alongside their teachers and tutors, should be very proud of their achievements.”
Test Valley School
Interim Head of School at Test Valley, Toni Wilden commented: “I only had the pleasure of working with the class of 2020 for the briefest of time but even in that limited time it was obvious this was a group of very special young people. The colleagues of Test Valley feel deeply saddened that these outstanding young people have been robbed of their chance to really prove themselves in the summer 2020 exam series, something I know many were looking forward to doing after working so hard. Sad too is the fact they have missed out on the usual rites of passage that all Year 11 deserve to experience. That said, we are proud of the resilience and determination they continue to show and of the many exam successes we celebrated today.
The school motto “in pursuit of personal excellence” has most certainly been demonstrated through the results achieved by so many today. The colleagues of Test Valley wish the class of 2020 the best of luck in the next stage of their lives.”
Test Valley School Case Studies
Oliver Holdich
“It’s great to celebrate Oli achieving five grade 8s, two 7s and two 6s. At Test Valley School Oli showed amazing artistic and design-based skills, combining these with hard work and tremendous perseverance and with these results under his belt he is now destined to follow his dreams and become a great engineer. We wish you all the very best for the future Oli.”
Oliver is going to study product design , geography and environmental science at Peter Symonds.
Isabella Mills
“Issy is celebrating an amazing set of results with four grade 9s, four 8s and a grade 5. During her secondary school career Issy has worked incredibly hard and has always put in her best and striven for personal excellence. She has a thirst for learning and always asked how to improve her work.”
Bradley Hall
“Bradley achieved 7 grade 9s, a grade 8 and a grade 7. He was talented across a number of different subjects but worked diligently in all lessons. He was always able to ask fantastic questions which resulted in some interesting discussions in class. Bradley has a particular talent for computer programming and has designed a number of applications. We thank Bradley for his contribution to the school and wish him every success in the future.”
Jen Meade
“Jen achieved 2 grade 9s, 3 grade 8s, 3 grade 7s and a grade 6. She always worked diligently in class and formed some fantastic working relationships with those in her group. Jen is particularly talented in Science and Geography and we wish her well.”
Jen is going on to study Biology, Chemistry and Geography at Peter Symonds.
Cerys Hotchkiss
“Cerys is without doubt highly deserving of her excellent results, with 3 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s and 4 grade 7s. Throughout her time at Test Valley she was diligent, thorough, resilient and eager to learn every single day without exception. Her courtesy and constant hard work epitomised the pursuit of personal excellence we hold dear as our motto.”
Winton Community Academy
Helen Jones, Headteacher for Winton Community Academy said: “Everyone at Winton is so proud of the resilience that our Year 11 students have shown. One of the core values of our school is to “Be Unusually Brave” and our Year 11s have certainly had to show bravery this year as they completed their secondary education in the strangest of ways.
We are delighted at how well they have done and we know that as they move on to further education they will continue to prove what a special year group they are. Everyone will remember the class of 2020 as an exceptional group of young people who dealt with the disruption to their exams with great fortitude. We wish our Winton students, and indeed all the students in Andover, our best wishes for the future and we look forward to hearing about all the amazing things they go on to accomplish.”
Winton Community Academy Case Studies
Mateusz Granica
Achieved: 10 grade 9s. Heading to Peter Symonds College to study A Levels in
Photography, media, Sport, Business Studies. Said: “Mr Thomas said that hard work pays off. I worked hard and my results are amazing, thank you Winton.”
Jun Ruan
Achieved: 2 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s, 3 grade 7s, 2 grade 6s and is off to Queen Mary’s College
To study A levels in Maths, Physics, Computer Science. Said: “I think the teachers at Winton have set me up really well for college and my future and I am very grateful for this.”
Tina Wang
Achieved: 4 grade 9s, 5 grade 8s and is off to Queen Mary’s College to study A levels in Maths, Physics, Graphics, said: “I am really over the moon with my results, they are really great.”
Freya McEvoy
Achieved: 1 grade 9, 4 grade 8s, 3 grade 7s and is off to Peter Symonds College to study
A levels in Biology, Cheistry, French, Dance. She said: “I have worked hard and was a little worried about my results this year, not knowing how they might be affected. I am really pleased with them and I am looking forward to starting college.”
Jacob McMillan
Achieved: 2 grade 9s, 5 grade 7s, 1 grade 4 which gets him into Queen Mary’s College to study A levels in English language, Philosophy, Music technology, Modern History.
Name: Maritoni Clores
Achieved: 1 grade 9, 3 grade 8s, 4 grade 7s. Heading to Queen Mary’s College
To study A Level – Chemistry, Biology, Business Studies. Said: “My time at Winton has been really great, so supportive and I am really happy with my results.”
