This 2020 cohort have faced unparalleled disruption and uncertainty, and we are proud of how maturely they responded to this difficult situation from March onwards. Given the awarding circumstances and our collective disappointment at how grades have been decided upon by the examination boards, celebrations were a muted affair. We were pleased however to share in the excitement of students who leave us for a range of exciting destinations.
Those heading to University this September will be attending institutions across the UK and abroad, with our highest number to date achieving places at ‘Russell Group’ institutions, including: Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Imperial College, Nottingham and Warwick. 2020 also sees our first students venture to Scottish and Irish Russell Group Universities with places accepted at both Edinburgh and Queen’s, Belfast.
Congratulations to Izzy, who will be reading Archaeology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Head Boy Dan also leaves us for a place at the University of Oxford to read History & Politics, and Head Girl Annie has gained a scholarship to study in Taiwan. Reflecting the academic interests and talents of this year group, students will study a wide range of courses, from Chemical Engineering to History; Dentistry to Scandinavian Studies & Politics; The Art of Computer Animation to Teaching. We wish them all great success.
The 9 students pictured celebrate 30 A* and A grades between them!
Honourable mention must go to Owen (red jumper above) who becomes our highest performing student ever with 5 A Levels all at A* / A! Alongside the class of 2020, Year 12 students also collected AS results for Core Maths and the popular Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
We will continue to offer support to our students in the days and weeks to come. Alderbrook, alongside all schools and colleges across Solihull and nationally, feel strongly that students should not be penalised and potentially disadvantaged due to extensive alterations to Centre Assessed Grades. A large number of students have been downgraded from the results issued by the school; these sweeping changes are against the stated aim of the standardisation process and we will pursue this matter for students in the days ahead.