Celebrations as students in and around Worksop receive their A-level results

Hundreds of students today (August 18) are celebrating their A-level results after years of hard work and uncertainty amid the pandemic.

The education secretary has warned of slightly lower grades nationally compared with last year, but are still higher than 2019.

For the last two years, students have been receiving prediction-based grades after summer exams were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

This year saw the return of normal exam procedures, but it must not be forgotten that students had to endure an entire lockdown during their first year of studies.

Worksop College

Worksop College headmaster, Dr John Price, said: “Days like these remind me how fortunate I am to work with such incredible young people – they have taken each challenge in their stride, using adversity to demonstrate their strength, resilience and willingness to achieve.

“Although I am delighted with such fantastic results, I am most proud that students are leaving today as kind, well rounded people – each one setting off on their individual adventures.

“Whatever their next step in life may be, whether it is attending their chosen university, or pursuing an interest, I wish them the very best.”

Standout students at Worksop College include school captain Alicia Barrett, who has juggled her studies alongside competing as a motor racing champion.

Today, Alicia received AAB and will be heading to Nottingham Trent University to study zoo biology. Alicia said: “I’m over the moon with my results - I’m so lucky that the school was supportive of my racing.

“I wouldn’t have received these results if I hadn’t had the flexibility around my racing schedule.”

Cricket enthusiast James Blackburn, who played for Bawtry Cricket Club, woke up this morning to a clean sweep of A*s in maths, biology, French and further maths.

In September, James will be leaving his hometown of Bawtry and moving to Durham to complete a degree in maths.

Outwood Post 16 Centre

Students from Outwood Post 16 Centre are also among those celebrating their successes today.

Some of the top achievers include Nayan Stanley who received four A*s and will go on to student software engineering at Sheffield Hallam.

Caitlyn Flynn will be going to University College London to study medicine after she achieved two A*s and two As.

And James McGuiness, who achieved an A* and three As, will go on to study business, accounting and finance at the University of Newcastle.

Janette Shea, head of centre at Post 16, said: “The determination of our students over the last year or so has been nothing short of inspirational. Despite the additional challenges, they have continued to engage positively with their studies.

“We are extremely proud of their achievements and so happy that they can now enjoy their success together.