North Yorkshire and East Riding celebrates A-Level performance
Students found out their results today after two years of disruption
North Yorkshire students are celebrating their A-level results today after two years of educational disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are so proud of what our schools and young people have achieved this year “ said County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Education and Skills. “You could argue that this cohort of students have suffered the greatest disruption to their learning since the Second World War and we know from what our headteachers tell us that they have shown great resilience and done the best that they could do in these very challenging circumstances.
“We wish to congratulate each and every one of our students and wish them the very best as they step forward into further or higher education, into training or work. And we wish to thank our staff who have pulled out all the stops to support our young people with the highest standards of teaching learning through this unprecedented period.
“These results are also a tribute to students’ families who have kept going with support through this most difficult of times.”
Overall, nationally, A level results are higher at grade A and above compared to 2020 (44.3% in 2021 compared with 38.1% in 2020, and 25.2% in 2019) and this reflects changes in assessment.
Results are also higher at grade B and above compared to 2020 (69.8% in 2021 compared with 65.4% in 2020, and 51.1% in 2019), whereas results are relatively stable at lower grades (C to E).
The overall increase in outcomes this year compared to previous years may partly reflect the change in assessment arrangements, for example, teachers may have given students some benefit of the doubt across the multiple opportunities many students had to show what they had learned – quite different from end of course exams.
“We believe the process for assessing grades this year is the best one given the circumstances,” said Cllr Mulligan, “and the grades reflect student’s achievement in the round through this very difficult period. Our school leavers can go forward with their heads held very high.
“We believe most students will be happy but if they are not, they must use the school processes for appealing their grades and use the university clearing system if they need to.”
In normal times North Yorkshire is in the top 20 per cent of all local authorities for students achieving at least two As and a B grade and it is likely the county will maintain this record this year.
Meanwhile, students around the East Riding have also received their A-Level results today.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, portfolio holder for children and young people’s education, health and wellbeing at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This year’s A-level students have shown great resilience during these uncertain times and they deserve great credit.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s lives and, over the past 18 months, the majority of our young people have had to come to terms with being at home for long periods of time and away from their classrooms and friendship groups.
“We should not underestimate the hard work our students have put in and we wish them all well for whatever their future holds.
“We must also take time to thank all the staff at the schools and colleges across the East Riding for the exceptional work they have done to get the students through this year as well as the help and support they have given to students, their parents, carers and families who also deserve praise for the work they have done at home to support their young people during the pandemic.”