Students celebrate results day at Peter Symonds College in Winchester

Nationally, top A-level results were down but university admissions were almost a record high.

Peter Symonds has seen 99 per cent of students pass with 40 per cent of those being A* and A grades.

Students opened A level, BTEC and T level results on a humid morning at the college.

The new T level qualification saw results for the first time. The qualification involves students spending part of the week on work placement, alongside their studies.

John Diedrick, 18, of Bradley Road, Winchester, has secured a place to study aerospace engineering at the University of Birmingham having gained A* grades in geography, maths and his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) with an A in physics.

He said: “My excitement levels are really high, I am just relieved that I have got the grades and I have all the options open to me.

“I am very excited to move out of home and be independent and study a full course on things I am interested in.

“I was really worried that I might not get the grades because aerospace is really competitive, it’s just a relief that all the hard work I have done over the past two years has paid off.

“My motivation was low during lockdown, my productivity wasn’t great but when we came back I really got my head down and refocused.

“There were so many distractions in lockdown, online learning was a bit difficult and a lot of people struggled.”

Leonie Rowe, 18, from near Romsey, is going to study classics at Durham having achieved A* grades in Latin, classics and EPQ with an A in history.

She said mock exams had helped her prepare for the exams as her year had missed out on sitting exams for their GCSEs.

The teenager said: “It was hard to begin with as half was online and it was a struggle to make friends but this year got much better and the college has been really helpful, having people to talk to, they even brought in a mini zoo to help us deal with stress.”

On her results, she added: “I am really happy, it’s so nice to have it confirmed and know I am going somewhere in September, it’s a really nice feeling.”

Josh Brooks, 18, from Basingstoke, got a triple distinction star in sport B Tec which involved sport coaching and psychology. He said: “I couldn’t have asked for better. I’m so proud. The teachers at Symonds were very supportive. We started in 2020 with online classes which were actually quite good.” Josh is now heading to Bath University to do sport management and coaching.

Explaining his hard shoulder, he said his mate “thought I was a crash mat”.

Leyna McQuillin, 18, got double distinction star in BTEC IT and a B in A Level psychology. She said: “I’m overjoyed and delighted at how I’ve done. A brilliant journey with a great end.” Leyna is going on to study E sports at Staffordshire uni.

Ben Macken, 18, got an A* in Maths and As in further maths, chemistry and computer science. He said: “Online lessons were tough at the start, but I’m so pleased with how I did.” He is heading to Royal Holloway in London to do computer science.

T levels are new two-year courses broadly equivalent in size to 3 A Levels. Launched in September 2020, these courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.

READ MORE: The wait is over. A-Level results day from Peter Symonds College 2022

Molly Lemon, 18, from Rownhams, near Romsey, studied T Level childcare and education and achieved a distinction. She worked at Halterworth Primary School for two days a week. “It was really good to get the experience in the school.” Molly is going to study primary education at Winchester University.

Issy Longley, Megan Hoult and Klaudia Szymczky got distinctions in child care T level.

Issy, 18, from North Baddesley, was offered a teaching assitant job at North Baddesley infant School after a work placement there. She is going to Reading University to study primary education. 

Megan, 18, from Winchester, also got a job from her placement at St. Peter's Catholic Primary School as a teaching assistant. She will be going to Winchester University to study primary education.

Klaudia, 18 from Southampton, worked at Shirley Warren Primary School, and is applying for jobs in nurseries. She had a particular interest in SEN and autism.

Aaran Freemantle, 19, of Middle Road Southampton, arrived at results day after working a night shift at an Amazon warehouse in Totton. He got two B's and a C to get into the University of Southampton to study medicine. Aaron said: "I was quite pessimistic before tody, but I'm so happy I got into university. Online classes were good, but I much preferred them in person."

Principal Sara Russell said: “This year group has had an educational experience like no other – the first to have its GCSE exams cancelled, and the first to be asked to sit full A-level examinations, and all sorts of Covid arrangements to navigate in between.

“Against a national drop in A-level performance, we are proud that we have bucked this trend and our students’ grades are as high as last year: indeed, the proportion of A* grades has actually increased, with almost 1,000 securing this top grade.”