THE headteacher of Farmor’s School in Fairford was delighted with this year’s A-Level results, which saw a 98 per cent pass rate.

Matthew Evans and his teaching staff have risen to the challenge following changes to the way A-Levels are assessed, with this year’s pass rate only a fraction smaller than last year’s 99.5 per cent.

“The vast majority of students have got their university places, which is the most important thing,” he told the Standard this morning.

He said the new linear A-Levels have meant teachers and students have needed to re-adapt. 

“It’s been good to have the two years to explore the subjects in a bit more depth. In that respect I think it’s a better preparation for university,” he said.

“It’s not been difficult, but because you don’t have the exams until the end, you are more reliant on your own assessments of what students can do. 

“But I think the benefit to us is, our A-Level teachers have been teaching A-Levels for a very long time so they know the subjects very well. 

“They made very strong connections,” he added.

As and A*s were achieved by 20 per cent of Farmor’s students this year, while 44 per cent achieved A* to B.

What’s more, four students gained entry into Oxford or Cambridge, which head of Sixth Form Emma White said was “up on last year” as was the percentage of A*s achieved.

“Something like 44 per cent of our students are leaving here today with at least one A or A* grade,” she said. 

“That’s really good, considering that the A-Levels have become tougher and how difficult it has been nationally to prepare students. 

“Exam boards haven’t been providing very much in terms of past papers, and that sort of thing. 

“The students have been more anxious this year and that’s shown nationally in the fact that fewer students have applied to university, so they’ve done really well,” she said. 

“A lot of them have come in and done better than they had expected.

“It’s been a really nice vibe in here today, no tears, only tears of happiness, no tears of despair,” she added.

She said the changes to GCSE key stage three and A-Levels, has meant students have been “like Guinea pigs” and “it’s been difficult for them if they are studying some on the new linear and some on the old modular system”.

However, she said the school’s “top end students have done as well as they’ve ever done”.

Student Lydia Rostrant, 18, was delighted to get two A*s in English Literature and History as well as a B in Psychology, and is looking forward to starting at Manchester University where she will study Creative Writing.

Asked what she hopes to do beyond university, she said “hopefully something to do with the arts, maybe media or journalism”.

In regards to her revision, she told the Standard: “It’s a blur. I remember that, actually, I found it easy to motivate myself because it was something I knew I really wanted.”

Lydia lives just outside Fairford, and said Manchester will “definitely be a big change”.

“My mum is from Manchester, so I know the area. It is a really cool city.”

Farmor’s highest achievers were:

  • Emily Wilder A* A A – she will go to Oxford University to study French and Spanish
  • Freddie Nuttall A* A A – he will go to Bristol University to study Mathematics
  • Caitlin Elliott A* A A – she will go to Cardiff University to study Architecture
  • Nitignya Navadgi A* A A – she will go to Cardiff University to study Dentistry
  • Peter Jones A* A* A* – he will go to Oxford University to study Physics