Thousands of pupils across Rotherham are this week receiving their A-Level and GCSE results after one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
The Covid-19 pandemic has meant pupils were again unable to sit exams, so their grades have come from teacher predictions, or central assessed grades as they are also known.
A-Level results are released today (Tuesday, August 10) and the GCSE results come out on Thursday (August 12).
The predicted grades are based on the pupil’s performance over the last two years and are assessed by schools, based on guidelines provided by exam regulator, Ofqual.
Despite the challenges, pupils have performed well and schools, parents, teachers and carers are celebrating strong results in a unique education climate.
Councillor Victoria Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “Following what has been a very challenging 18 months for our young people across the borough, it is extremely positive that we have seen this cohort of young people achieve to such a high level.
“The challenges of the global pandemic have impacted across all areas of education for this group of young people. They have also impacted on parents/carers, education professionals and the wider community, and this week’s achievements across A-levels and GCSEs stand as testament to the hard work of all.
“It is appropriate to recognise the absolute commitment of our schools and colleges who have continually adapted to the challenges we have faced and sought to make sure that our young people can continue to achieve to their full potential.
“Well done to all our young people who have achieved their exam results this week. I hope that their hard work creates the opportunity to continue on their positive pathways for their next steps in their lives; the achievements of all, in spite of the continued challenges of the pandemic, are a measure of the borough response to the pandemic. Good luck to all in the future.”
The exam performance of local schools is compared in league tables which use Progress 8, a measure introduced in 2016, to show how much progress pupils have made between the end of primary school and their GCSEs. For the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years there will be no published data to benchmark performance across schools in the borough against national comparators.
For pupils who are concerned about their results or are looking for expert support and wellbeing advice, there is a service called Student Space, run by Student Minds.
This provides dedicated support services, tips, tools and student stories to help pupils through their results and next steps.
To access the service, visit Results and next steps | Student Space or text ‘STUDENT’ to 85258 to start a conversation with the team.