Pandemic does not stop Spalding Grammar School students for achieving excellent results
Determination and commitment paid off for Spalding Grammar School students who have received their A-Level results this morning.
Teenagers have learned that they will be heading off to study at medicine, planetary science and veterinary science after finally receiving their long awaited results.
Head teacher Stephen Wilkinson says the school has seen an improvement in its results in a challenging 12 months.
He said: "I am confident the processes we went through were rigorous and students have received the grades they deserve.
"This has been a very difficult year and I want to congratulate the students for navigating it as successfully as they have. I also want to express my thanks to the teachers who have worked tirelessly, in ever-changing and often unclear circumstances, to get the best out of the students and for generating well-evidenced and accurate grades for the students.
"We have achieved 67.9% A*-B this year, which compares to 64.7% in 2020 and 65.1% in 2019, and is in line with the general trajectory of continued improvement within the sixth form at school."
Adam Arnfield (18), of Cowbit, will be going to Oxford University after achieving four A*s in history, politics, maths and English literature.
Adam, who will be studying politics, philosophy and economics, said: "We didn't know if the Government was going to close the schools. We have had to sit multiple exams over the year and it has been very stressful for the last few months of school but it worked out in the end. "
Jake Barnes (18) discovered he would be heading to Cambridge University to study medicine - while at the dentist.
After securing A*s in chemistry, maths and biology, he will be going to to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor.
Jake, of Wisbech, said: "When I was younger my dad was ill and went to hospital to have surgery. I was in awe of what the doctors did for my dad. They saved his life and from there I wanted to go into medicine."
Determined Jack Cunnington (18), of Spalding,has achieved As in PE, business and art. Thanks to his hardwork, he has secured a place at Loughborough University to study architecture.
Jack said: "It has not been the easiest road with lockdowns but we just had to knuckle down and get on with it. Hard work pays off."
Commitment has also paid off for James Clark, who is delighted to have secured a place at Loughborough University to study sport management.
The 17-year-old from Weston Hills said:"I put in a lot of hard work, especially last year as lockdown was really hard. I have to say that my grades were not where I wanted them to be at the end of Year 12.
"Then I decided I wanted to do sport and put my head down and started working hard. When I started to get better grades, it made me think that I could get to Loughbough, the hub of sport, and where I have always wanted to go. That gave me the inspiration to carry on and I have ended up with an A* and two As."
Pinchbeck teenager Tom Lee (18) has secured a place at Plymouth University to study medicine after achieving three As and a C.
With a wry smile he said: "In Year 11, I was torn between animals and people but I went for people as animals can't say thank you.
"I am really relieved to get into medicine."
Space and Imperial College London beckons for Holbeach youngster Andrew Boyd after achieving three As.
Andrew's ambition is to become an astronaut and has secured a place to study earth and planetary science.
He said: "I am over the moon to receive these results as I didn't expect to get them. At the end of Year 12 I was in a dark place in terms of school and didn't think I was going to do anything and then lockdown happened.
"I went to a few lectures on earth science and found them really interesting. With this new interest and a lot of free time, I found the work really enjoyable and I became passionate quite quickly.
Amelia Billimore will be fulfilling her dream of becoming a vet after achieving two As and a B.
The 18-year-old from Wisbech St Mary said: "It is very exciting to get the results."
Spalding teenager Amelie Ogden-Storr is going to Manchester University to study earth and planetary science thanks to her four grades which include an A* in maths.
She said: "I am over the moon and really proud. I was really stressed about my physics result as an I needed an A and I am so proud to get it."
Atticus Strickland, (18), of Spalding, will be heading to Durham University after he achieved three A*s and an A.
He said: "I was quite nervous but I am happy."