Students celebrated this week as Southwark saw an “exceptional improvement” in results compared to 2019, the last time pupils sat normal exams.
Early indicators show that Southwark exceeded national national figures by between 0.8 to 5.6 per cent across the various grade ranges.
The borough’s students are bound for Oxford degrees, Dyson apprenticeships and Princes Drawing School courses, overcoming Covid-19, personal challenges and, in one instance, broken bones to get there.
Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Education, said: “Massive congratulations to all our A–Level students for their extraordinary results. Not only do they represent two years of your hard work, but you are the first students to sit formal summer exams in three years.”
There was also an increase in the number of students awarded A* to B grades, up from 51.1 per cent in 2019 to 67.8 per cent this year.
Reflecting on Southwark’s success, Cllr Ali said: “What an incredible achievement to exceed the national figures across all grades despite the havoc caused by COVID-19. It’s testament to the outstanding resilience and commitment of young people, school staff and parents across the borough.”
Sixth formers at Elephant and Castle’s Ark Globe Academy celebrated some of their best ever results. One of those students was Oxford University-bound Shameika, the first in her family to go to university.
http://southwarknews.co.uk/news/education/a-level-results-ark-globals-shameika-is-the-first-in-her-family-to-go-to-university-and-its-oxford/?preview_id=73943&preview_nonce=2a1a5a009b&post_format=standard&_thumbnail_id=73944&preview=true
“Being the first generation in my family to attend university, I hope to be an inspiration for each generation of my family and other children to aim to be Oxbridge students,” she said.
There was also Jacob Steele, 18, from Peckham, who almost scuppered his chances of studying engineering after breaking a finger meant he had to type up his mock exams with one hand.
Fortunately, the eighteen-year-old recovered in time for exam season and will study General Engineering at University of Sheffield.
Unlike her peers Imogen Carter, from Herne Hill, currently working in Sydney, Australia, endured an agonising wait until 5pm before getting her results.
A-Level Results: Charter School North Dulwich beats 2019 scores by huge margin
The Charter School North Dulwich student’s patience was rewarded with three A*s and two As, meaning she will read Latin and Spanish at Cambridge.
Her parents flew across the world to celebrate with her: “It’s been an aim since I was seven-years-old. Them not being here for it would have been such a weird experience.”
Nearly all Southwark A-level exam entries (99.2 per cent) were awarded a pass grade, up from 97.8 per cent in 2019.
97 per cent of schools in Southwark are good and outstanding, the fourth highest of all London boroughs, with this number expected to rise further in September.