PIGGOTT School pupils are hitting Reading town centre tonight after achieving top results in their A-levels.
Derren Gray, headteacher of the Wargrave school, said this year’s A-level and vocational results have been “outstanding”.
This year, 99.5% of pupils passed their studies and nearly half (43.7%) achieved A* and A grades. More than 90% were awarded A* to C.
Nearly all (94%) of pupils passed their vocational qualifications too.
Mr Gray said: “Staff and students have all worked exceptionally hard and this is reflected in the grades awarded.
“This once again shows our outstanding Sixth Form as a centre of excellence for Academic, Applied General and Technical learning.
“[I wish] all Piggott students the very best for their future and thank all the teaching and support staff for their continued dedication and professionalism.
Harry Daisley, who is looking forward to studying medicine at Leeds University next month, achieved three A*s in biology, chemistry and history.
“I felt a mixture of two emotions,” he said. “The first being relief, the second being disbelief.
“I was in shock that all the hard work paid off after two quite difficult and challenging years, and it was quite validating to get the grades back.”
He said Year 13s have learnt a lot of skills throughout the pandemic, including independence and adaptability.
“We’ve had a unique experience and to see that we can rise to occasions like this is a big confidence booster,” Harry added.
This evening, he plans to celebrate the results with friends at an ‘A-level festival’ in Reading.
Fellow student Chloe Eames said she also felt relieved when opening her results this morning.
Chloe achieved two A*s and two As in business, PE, biology and the Extended Project Qualification.
“It was such a surprise because in the time between taking the exams and now, you overthink it and convince yourself you haven’t done as well,” she said.
“I got myself into a bit of a spin but it’s a massive relief.”
Chloe now plans to study Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Exeter, and said she is looking forward to a fresh start.
“I was a new student in the sixth form so I only spent about six months there in the full flow of the Piggott,” she said. “It meant settling in was very disrupted.
“It’s a good opportunity to have a fresh start at university and close off this period.”
Now, she is gearing up to hit the nightclubs this evening for the first time with her friends.
Matthew Sullivan, a Year 13 student, is also planning to celebrate with friends after achieving three A*s in physics, maths and further maths.
“It was a pretty big relief,” he said about receiving his results. “I was quite confident after I did my exams but it’s been so long since then, the nerves crept up a bit.
“It’s nice to see that it’s all paid off in the end.”
Matthew will begin studying Physics at Oxford University in October.
