LIVE: A-level results day 2022 as Sheffield students find out their grades following return of exams

Birkdale School in Sheffield said it had a 100 per cent pass rate overall, with one in five pupils achieving all A*s or As and 70 per cent getting all Bs or better.

Headteacher Peter Harris said: “On behalf of our entire Birkdale family, I want to send my congratulations to our students on their results, especially as they have been among the worst impacted by the pandemic which changed all our worlds.

“Having their GCSE examinations cancelled in 2020, and spending much of the first six months of their A Level studies working from home, the challenges have been immense - but so too has their perseverance, determination and resilience. Whatever the grades received today, they should be proud of what they have achieved.

“As Ofqual and UCAS said earlier this week, it is not meaningful to compare this year’s results to those of 12 months ago, so it is important young people – and those in the world beyond – understand that, and celebrate the successes in what has been a period of turmoil.”

Proud parent Katrin sent this touching message to The Star to congratulate her daughter Chantel on her A* in Art and Design:

“Hi I just wanted to share our news on how proud of my daughter we are she got a A* in her art at Longley college today she’s had a really stressful time over last few years first covid and the losing her dad in April this year unexpectedly she’s worked so hard and we’re so proud . Her dad would have been soo proud he loved showing her art work off to people when he was out about on his jobs showing all his customers her drawings. Please could you just give her a little mention thank you soo much from her proud mum katrina”

Well done to Molly and Sam Akers whose proud mum Andrea wrote to the Star to say:

“My twins did amazingly! “Molly Cowell 4 A*s at A level (High Storrs) “Sam Cowell Distinction at UAL level 3 Music ( Extended Diploma Music) “Molly to study Politics and International Relations at Durham after a gap year. “Sam to study a degree in Songwriting at Leeds Conservatoire “Super proud of them both!”

Sixth form students at Meadowhead School have taken home a 100 per cent pass rate and has a record percentage of A*-A grades. Just over 42 per cent of the grades achieved by Meadowhead students were A*-A.

Nearly three quarters of all grades this year were A*-B, and headteacher Mrs Kam Grewal-Joy says their students have shown “resilience” in the face of the pandemic.

She said: “It is our best set of results yet and shows that Meadowhead Sixth Form is truly outstanding.

“This is a wonderful achievement for students, staff and governors, and is testimony to their hard work and commitment. Well done to all our students and their supportive parents.  A huge thanks, also, to our dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to help secure these successes.

“It is a proud day in the history of the school and a proud day for these youngsters and their families. We will continue to build on these successes to ensure that Meadowhead School becomes the outstanding school our community deserves.”

For congratulations or commiserations, there are a number of spots in Sheffield today where you can get a free meal out of your A-Level results.

Nando’s and Las Iguanas are doing deals to celebrate - click here to find out more: https://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/results-day-2022-free-food-for-a-level-students-in-sheffield-including-nandos-and-las-iguanas-3807595

Statistics show the overall A-Level pass rate awarded has dropped this year compared to 2021 - but still higher than the last time schools sat exams.

The overall pass rate has falled to 98.4 per cent, down from 99.5 per cent in 202, when grades were awarded by teachers.

However, UCAS said the second-highest number of A-Level students on record have been accepted into their first or second choice university courses, down from the all-time high last year.

High Storrs School, who welcome The Star onto their grounds today for the big event at 8am, say their students have show “focus and determination” through the pandemic.

44 per cent of all grades at High Storrs have come in at an A* or A.

Headteacher Claire Tasker says their students now “fully deserve to celebrate”.

She said: “We have always worked with our students to keep them focused on what they can do to achieve their best rather than allowing the disruption of the past couple of years to over-shadow them. They all have the capacity to work hard and determine their futures. That is not to say there have not been challenges - lockdowns, no formal GCSE examinations, self-isolation, advanced information and more – but their engagement and commitment has led to fantastic outcomes. We are so proud.”

Director of Sixth Form, Laura Newell said: “what has given us even more cause for celebration is that students from all starting points have achieved excellent outcomes. This means they have also secured a wide range of exciting destinations”.

Five exceptional students at King Edward VII School have sailed through to a place at Oxford or Cambridge with their results today.

At the same time, the school says they have seen a 99.6 per cent pass rate and one in three grades were either an A or A*.

Linda Gooden, Headteacher, stated that, ‘Our amazing students displayed determination, commitment and resilience to achieve excellent results after the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are tremendously proud of our students and their achievements.

“Thank you to all parents, carers, staff and governors who have worked in close partnership to secure the success of our wonderful students. We wish them all the very best as they start the next stage in their educational journey.’