Camden A-levels 2020
Students across Camden secondary schools received their A-level results, BTECs and other vocational qualifications yesterday (Thursday).
Overall, our students’ A-level results this year were slightly up on the borough’s 2019 figures, with the average points score per entry 2.3 points higher - up from 32.9 last year to 35.2 this year. (Note: this figure is now likely to change following the Government's announcement about students being able to revert to their school-assessed grades if unhappy with results).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were unable to sit their exams and had their grades calculated for them based on teacher assessments and a national standardisation model, which took into account the prior performance of their schools.
They also still have the option to appeal their grades through their schools - and schools are now likely to be in touch with students again following the Government's announcement on Monday (17 August).
Despite reports across the country about students being unfairly downgraded in some subjects and the subsequent change in national policy, many Camden students were pleased with their results and are now heading off to some of the country’s most prestigious universities.
Among the students who were happy with their results was Isfak Miah, of Haverstock School, who has been accepted at King’s College Cambridge to read natural sciences. Isfak was among the 25% of Haverstock’s ‘Class of 2020’ to gain places at the prestigious Russell Group of top universities.
James Hadley, Headteacher at Haverstock School, said: “Our Year 13 students were denied the opportunity to take their exams as a result of the pandemic but have shown incredible resilience and determination during the unprecedented times in which we live. We are immensely proud of them all.”
At Regent High School, students were successful in securing university places at a range of institutions, including: King’s College London; UCL; Queen Mary, University of London; St George’s, University of London; Middlesex University and the University of Westminster.
Amina Hagi Abdullahi, who was Regent High School’s top scoring student, was awarded three As in politics, psychology and history. A former pupil of Argyle Primary School, Amina said her teachers at Regent Sixth Form were “always there for me and very dedicated”.
Amina is heading off to King’s College London to read history, with a view to then undertaking postgraduate study towards her ambition of becoming an academic in Middle Eastern history.
Fellow Regent High School student Sadiya Khanom will be studying maths at Queen Mary, University of London, thanks to her A, B, B grades in maths, biology and business. Sadiya, also a former student of Argyle Primary School, said that Regent Sixth Form “pushed me further to try my best”. Sadiya wants to work in finance after her degree.
Gary Moore, Headteacher of Regent High School, said: “Given the unprecedented context in which these grades have been awarded, I would like to extend my congratulations to the students and compliment them on how well they have navigated the last several months. They have shown great resilience and tenacity.”
At LaSWAP Sixth Form, which is the joint sixth form for Acland Burghley, William Ellis, Parliament Hill and La Sainte Union secondary schools, this year’s results reflected LaSWAP’s strong performance in previous years and more students got top A* and A* to B grades this year. Three LaSWAP students will be heading off to Oxford and Cambridge universities this year – and many more have secured places at top Russell Group universities.
William Ellis School and LaSWAP student Gabriel Adler was awarded four A* grades in his A-levels in maths, further maths, geography, and physics and will be heading off to at Cambridge University to study natural sciences.
Fellow William Ellis and LaSWAP student Maud McLaughlin gained two A*s in her German and history A-levels and an A in classical civilisation. She now has a place at Cambridge University to study classics.
Maud said: “LaSWAP allowed me to study my combination of A-level courses, which I wasn’t able to do at most other sixth forms in London.”
Parliament Hill School and LaSWAP student Eleanor Goldthorpe received three A*s - in her biology and history A-levels and her extended project qualification (EPQ) - as well as an A grade in her English literature A-level and is looking forward to studying history at Oxford University.
Eleanor said: “It is LaSWAP that has provided me with the support and confidence to achieve my academic goals. The dedication, care and support of my teachers made LaSWAP a special place to be.”
Acland Burghley School and LaSWAP student Sue Nolan received A*s in her drama and English literature A-levels, as well as an A in history, and is going to UCL to study English.
Another high performing student is La Sainte Union and LaSWAP’s Katie Stacey, who got A*s in her maths and further maths A-levels and a B in history. She has a place to study maths at the University of Bristol.
There were also some outstanding results from students on vocational courses, such as BTECs and higher level NVQs, at LaSWAP - with significant numbers achieving the highest levels.
At Camden School for Girls, an amazing 15 students gained places at Cambridge or Oxford universities and five have places at medical school.
Twenty per cent of all grades awarded to A-level students at Camden School for Girls were A*s, while just over half (52%) of all grades at the school's sixth form, which is also open to boys, were A*s or As.
Headteacher Elizabeth Kitcatt said: "This has been a very challenging year, for students, teachers and schools, as well as the wider community, and we are exceptionally proud of what our students have achieved in the face of such difficulty."
At Maria Fidelis Catholic School, A-level student Aiseosa Eweka-Okera gained a place to study human, social and political science at Girton College, University of Cambridge, while other Maria Fidelis students were also pleased to have secured places at top universities.
Headteacher Helen Gill said: "We are very pleased that so many of our students have got the recognition that they deserve in what have been very unsettling times for them. All of our sixth formers deserve credit for coping with the pressure of the last few months, and a high number of our students gained places at Russell Group universities this year. We are particularly happy for Aiseosa, who will be going to Girton College, Cambridge, and other students who have places at the University of York; UCL; Leeds and Université Libre de Bruxelles, in Belgium."
UCL Academy Sixth Form also reported that the grades awarded to students were “as strong as ever”, with many students heading off to top universities, including the Academy’s sponsor university, UCL.
This was undoubtedly a difficult and uncertain period for our young people, with many worried about being away from teachers, peers, and not being able to sit the exams they have been working hard towards.
Despite these challenges, students have been able to adapt to learning at home and our schools have been doing amazing work to keep pupils engaged and supported throughout this crisis. I hope that with receiving these grades and qualifications – many of which look really impressive - local students can look forward to the future, whether that is a university place, an apprenticeship, training, volunteering or into employment.
A heartfelt thank you must also go to the borough’s headteachers, teachers and staff who have worked tirelessly to support their students and communities during this time and have played a crucial role, both locally and nationally, in the response to the coronavirus through teaching and beyond.
