The headmaster of one of the UK’s newest private schools has paid tribute to the “fantastic” efforts of his sixth form students after 91 per cent of them gained A stars and As at A-level.
Andrew Allman, Headmaster of Myddelton College in Denbigh, said his Sixth Form and Year 11 students, had shown great character and determination in dealing with the difficulties of learning under pandemic restrictions.
He said: “We were able to continue through lockdown to provide a full classroom teaching programme for all pupils but for the first year of their courses this was mainly remotely because of lockdown.
“Through it all they and the teaching staff here showed great character, determination and resilience in very difficult circumstances and now they have gained their reward.
“We had 100 per cent A Star to A in Art, Chinese, Computer Science, Drama and Theatre, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Government and Politics, History, Music, Psychology and BTEC Film and Media.”
At A-level 22 students sat the exams and 70 per cent of the grades achieved were A Star to A with three A Stars in English Literature, History and Politics going to Head of School Katie Balmer, from Rhewl, near Ruthin, who has volunteered for as a switchboard operator for Childline, based in Prestatyn.
Katie, who will be going to Bath to study Politics in September, said: “I’ve got the results I need but it was difficult preparing for exams and then finding there weren’t going to be exams.
“We had online lessons for a year and then were back in class but the staff have been brilliant and really helped us through it.”
Proud mum Amanda said: “We’re just super proud of Katie. She has worked really hard and it’s all paid off now.”
The dream of a career in the West End is alive for Libby Williams, from St Asaph, after As in Politics and Drama and a Distinction in Media Studies sends her to Edge Hill University, in Liverpool, to study Musical Theatre.
She said: “I want to perform, that’s my dream, to be on stage in the West End.
“It’s the fear of the unknown before you open that envelope but then there’s the relief when you see you’ve done well.”
Abbey Hughes, from St Asaph, is also realising a childhood dream to study Midwifery at Swansea University and she said: “It’s my dream place and dream subject. I’ve wanted to be a midwife since I was six.
“It’s been a long time coming for me but it makes all the hard work worthwhile now. To see that I’m going in four weeks. I couldn’t be any more excited because I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Her mum, Karen, said: “I’ve got five children and Abbey was number two and she’s been involved with my babies since she was six.
“She just has that kind of personality. She is a very caring person. You have to be a special breed of person to be a midwife, it’s a vocation.”
Ffion Williams-Jones, from Prestatyn, is also headed for London, to the University of the Arts, to study Fashion Design and Development after two A Stars and an A.
She said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. It’s been a really tough two years.
“I came prepared for the worst because of how hard it has been but that just makes getting these brilliant results even better.”
Gabriel Mealor Pritchard, from Conwy, whose dream is to work for Vogue magazine is to study Fashion Journalism at Central St Martin’s University in London after an A Star Distinction and two Bs and he said: “I can’t believe it. It’s the best place in the world to do my subject.
“The last two years have been s insane but it didn’t hit me until this morning that I might not pass but then I opened the envelope and realized everything was going to be fine.
“The school has been amazing. Being able to do all our lessons at home meant we didn’t miss out on anything.”
His mum, Nikki Pritchard, assistant headmistress at Myddelton College, said: “I’m really proud. His education just didn’t stop and that’s helped him a lot.
“He’s worked very hard but the support from the teachers has been excellent.”
Others to do well include Ella Evans, AAB, who will go to Warwick to study Medical Science and Sam McAllister, three As, is taking a gap year before studying Medicine.
Mr Allman added: “The most important thing for us is that our students achieve their full potential but we also believe that we shouldn’t just be an exam factory but should give our pupils the opportunity to pursue other activities, especially outdoors.
“We believe those experiences provide them with a well-rounded education to prepare them for university and enables them to get the most out of their further education.”
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