Chesterfield College students celebrate A Level and Vocational course results
Chesterfield College students had plenty to celebrate when they collected their final A Level and Vocational results today.
After an unusual academic year and a nervous wait, students opened envelopes to find out how they had been graded without sitting exams. The college’s achievement and pass rates across academic and vocational courses mean the majority of students were delighted to find out they had the results they needed to progress on to further study or into employment.
With a 100% A Level pass rate and 76% of students receiving A*to C grades, along with a record number of the highest grades of A* to B, many students have secured their first choice university places.
A Level students returned to the college’s Sixth Form hub, in the former grammar school on Sheffield Road, for the first time since the college closed its doors at the beginning of lockdown to collect results. Students on vocational courses were also invited back to the college to collect results. This was the perfect opportunity to see familiar faces after several month of virtual learning, albeit with social distancing and safety measures in place.
Megan Ward, was delighted when she opened her results to discover she had an A in Psychology, an A in English and a C in Criminology. She said: “My psychology grade is what I expected and I’m so happy with the A in English, it’s great to see my hard work over the last two years has meant that I’ve shot up two grades. I wasn’t too stressed until last night, I couldn’t sleep until 2am but I just kept trying to tell myself not to worry about it because I can’t change what’s on the paper. I’m now going to study Psychology at the University of Brighton and eventually I want to pursue a career in the subject because I really enjoy it. I’m looking forward to going out for a meal with my family tonight to celebrate.”
Megan Ward
History and Philosophy student Olivia Laiken said: “I am so excited! I didn’t sleep at all last night. Getting an A and a B means I can go my first choice university and get where I want to be. I’ve got a place at Durham University to study History which is exactly where I want to be! It has been a nerve-racking wait. When you do an exam you can tell how it goes on the day but without that we didn’t really know how it was going to go. After my mocks I put so much extra work in and got lots of support from my tutor so I am glad that has paid off.”
Olivia Laiken
Students who collected vocational results across a range of subjects from media and digital technologies to construction and vehicle technology. They explained how it felt to finally know their results and what is next for them.
William Hughes, who received a Triple distinction* in Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT (Games, Application and Web Development) said: “I wasn’t too anxious about getting the results today because I knew I had a confirmed place at university but I am still happy to know that I did get my expected grades. I am going to Sheffield Hallam to study games programming next year. I had finished most of my work before lockdown and I only had a few things to left to do so it hasn’t been too difficult but I was wondering how our two years of work would be graded. I look forward to celebrating and relaxing now I know.”
William Hughes
Sophie Gribbin-Gabitas got an A* in NCFE CACHE Level 3 Technical certificate in Childcare and Education. She said: “It’s a nice relief getting these results after working through lockdown. All that extra effort has definitely paid off. Getting this grade means I can start my university place at Sheffield Hallam to study teaching. I didn’t quite get the A Level grades I needed from school last year so they deferred my place and asked me to get some more UCAS points. I came to college to do a top up year and I really wanted to do well. I have tried my best this year and I am pleased it shows in my grade.”
Sophie Gribbin-Gabitas
Jo Kershaw, Director of Business Professional and Service Industries at Chesterfield College said:
“Congratulations to all our students who have worked incredibly hard this year, before and after lockdown. They should be very proud of their results. The hard work and commitment they have put into their studies throughout the year will help many of them move onto university-level study or into their chosen careers. I also want to thank our tutors for supporting students to achieve in challenging circumstances.”
“We know it has been a very different end to the academic year than any of us had planned but it is important we celebrate what our students have achieved over the entirety of their course and focus on the opportunities that this brings for them. It was good to have students back in college to celebrate with them today. Our priority now is to ensure we support students with their next steps and get the new academic year off to a great start with quality teaching in a safe space. We are looking forward to welcoming new and returning students in September. ”
