I hope that you are having a relaxing summer and that you have had the opportunity for some much-needed family time. I am writing today to share with you the success of our Year 13 students in this year’s A Level and BTEC examinations. In a year that marked the return of external examinations following the pandemic, students and staff at The Ecclesbourne School are celebrating after achieving the school’s best-ever set of A level results. 40% of all grades were at A* or A (up from 32% in 2019), almost three quarters at A* to B and 90% at A*-C. No fewer than 43 students achieved all A* and A grades at A level and eleven individual students gained a full set of A* grades. In addition, students across the year group made better than expected progress from their high GCSE starting points. We look forward to recognising their academic success and progress in this year’s Prize Day celebration in September.
As a result, and most importantly, our students have been able to gain the university places and apprenticeships for which they applied. Just under half of all students who applied through UCAS have secured places at Russell Group universities, with 80% of all university applicants securing their first-choice courses. Many students have been successful in securing high level apprenticeships, a growing trend and one of which we are very proud. At the time of writing the vast majority of students have had confirmation of their places for next year.
These exceptional results are testament to the hard work and tenacity of our students and staff and the support and encouragement provided by mums and dads. As parents, carers and teachers we know what these young people have been through in the last couple of years. They have faced significant disruption through two national lockdowns, and this is in reality their first proper set of exams as their GCSEs would have been in the summer the pandemic started. They are an incredible group of young people and we couldn’t be prouder of them.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish each of our Year 13 leavers every success for the future. You deserve all the praise and plaudits we can give you.
Yours sincerely,
James McNamara
Head Teacher