Northwich students at the Grange celebrate A-level success

After what has been an incredibly difficult, pandemic-impacted two years, many of the students were in celebratory mood, after getting the grades they needed to go on to university.

The class of 2021 have kept pace with previous cohorts to achieve superb A Level outcomes this summer with more students than ever heading to their first-choice university destination, despite the external pressures faced.

Christian Howes is off to study Mathematics at Imperial College London

For School Captain Christian Howes, who lives in Sandiway, the next stage of his educational journey will take him to Imperial College London, where he will study Mathematics, after securing four A*s in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music and German.

He said: "At the start of sixth form I was hoping to go and study music, but then I swapped.

"It's a bit of a big swap, but London is always where I wanted to go, for music as well.

"Imperial just seems like such a really cool place to study.

"The last year has been a really weird experience but our school's been very good at keeping it going in lockdown.

"It's been a very different experience than I would've expected.

"In sixth form you get to know the teachers quite well and you can really see all the extra work they've had to put in.

"It's a bit weird that I won't be coming back, but it's also exciting."

Holly McGregor-Ogden is off to Newcastle to study Psychology

Fellow School Captain Holly McGregor-Ogden, who lives locally in Hartford, said her results were better than expected, including achieving an A* in Drama.

"I opened them this morning and was like, wow," she said.

"The Physics and Maths blew me out of the water (she got an A in both).

"I'm going to Newcastle Uni to study Psychology.

"At school I was into the Psychology Society, as I really enjoy studying the mind and how it works.

"I also really like acting so I'm hoping at uni I can get into the theatre society and maybe see where that takes me.

"Having to work from home swept me off my feet at first, but after a while it became normal I guess, and the school did an amazing job keeping us going through lockdown.

"That's one thing I'm most grateful for the school about, because they kept us going, which is how I got the results I did in the end.

"Leaving is bittersweet because I'm excited to go on to my next chapter in life, but I'm also sad because I've been here for so long."

Alice Norman from Hartford is off to study Marine Biology at Newcastle University

For Alice Norman, who also lives in Hartford, a stint at Newcastle University to study Marine Biology beckons after an A* in Biology, A in Chemistry, a B in Maths and a A in Extended Project Qualification.

She said: "I originally applied for medicine, but then re-applied for Marine Biology.

"I've been interested in it for most of my life as well, I just didn't think I'd do it at uni.

"Studying has been quite hard, it's been very different.

"Our teachers were all amazing, so it wasn't made out to be this huge chore.

"With the constant assessment, it kind of put a bit more pressure to do consistently well throughout the two years.

"Not doing the exams added a bit more uncertainty and it was a case of will it or won't it be okay.

"I've been at The Grange since I was at Kindergarten, so it's sad to go but it's also nice that I've done so well coming out of it all."

Head teacher Debbie Leonard said: "They've not had an easy two years of sixth form life.

"As I've been telling them, it shouldn't define who they are.

"Grades don't define a student, it's what they do within those two years.

"Many of the students at The Grange are embarked in sport, music, drama or other enrichment activities such as Olympiads, maths challenge and so on.

"We've been very focused throughout the various lockdowns on making sure the children have stayed interested and involved in those activities, as well as stay on top of their A-level studies.

"I'm here today and I'm delighted to say that our students have got a good set of grades that set them well up for the future.

"The future is bright for these children and as we always tell them, it's about hard work, have your dream and following your passions and I hope that the students at The Grange School will do that.

"Although they've done well and they've got that piece of paper, there is more that defines them, so good luck to all the students.

"We look forward to seeing them again in the future and to be those role models we always have at the school, to motivate and inspire others.

"Well done to the class of 2021, I'm very proud of them."

Debbie Leonard, Head of the Grange School in Hartford

Head of Sixth Form Jamie Walker praised the class of 2021 for their dedicated approach.

"Nationwide A Level Students have experienced disruption to their studies and uncertainties about how they are going to be assessed," he said.

"We are incredibly proud of how the Grange class of 2021 have adjusted to this, showing great fortitude when fully embracing our remote learning provision during both national lockdowns and making the most of every opportunity."