A-level results day: Bay House school students earn university places

Youngsters have faced a tough few months after their exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and many wondered whether or not they had earned their place at university.

But there were many smiles on faces at the school as students eagerly picked up their results this morning.

Josh Hills, 18, got four A*s in maths, physics, chemistry and further maths. He’s got a place at The University of Cambridge studying natural sciences.

He said: ‘I’m a bit overwhelmed. The results are better than I expected. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions. Not knowing was difficult.

‘We had a complete lack of control and there was nothing to put our minds at ease, it was all up in the air.

‘But I am excited about university. It’s a new experience from the style of learning we got here. It’s something that I want to embrace because it’s going to be a challenge.

‘That’s what life is about - there are challenges and we want to overcome them and be successful. I am looking forward to it.’

Matt Weller, 18, got a B in chemistry, a B in maths and a C in physics. He’s off to Loughborough University to study electronic engineering.

He said: ‘I’m really happy. It’s weird because we can’t really justify it and come out of an exam and feel good or bad about each subject.

‘It’s a bit daunting because it’s out of our hands because doing the mocks we didn’t know that this would be our A-level results.

‘But I did have faith. Now that I know I have got into uni I don’t care what I got. I am so excited to go to Loughborough.’

Matt said the school has been very supportive throughout the pandemic.

‘The school have been as helpful as they could be,’ he added. ‘I always got on well with my teachers. I did very much enjoy sixth form.’

SEE ALSO: How schools and colleges fared in our area – results update

Natalie Rimmer, 18, got three Bs in psychology, English literature and politics and has earned a place at Cardiff University studying English literature and journalism.

She said: ‘I am just happy that I have got in with everything that’s gone on over the last five months. Everything has been so up in the air.

‘It was really difficult at first. The school have been checking up on us and we knew that they were there for us.

‘I am very excited about university. I can’t wait to make new friends. I am studying something that I want to be studying. I have always wanted to be a journalist and now I get to do that and explore the field.’

Chloe Davis, 18, got an A* in biology, an A in maths and an A in chemistry and has a place at The University of Oxford studying medicine.

She said: ‘I’m happy. It’s a weird kind of feeling because we didn’t take the exams. It’s really weird and completely different to GCSEs. Then we worked really hard and it paid off.

‘But there’s a lot of relief knowing that what I did up to the point when the school shut was enough and knowing that I am going to spend the next six years of my life being where I want to be.

‘The school sent a lot of emails about our mental health which is probably the most important thing at the moment.’

Lottie Fisher, 18, got a B in psychology, a C in history and a C in ancient history and is going to Cardiff University to study ancient history. She said: ‘It’s difficult because if you do exams you sort of know how you have done but we didn’t have a clue what was happening. I was a bit unsure about it all. But now I am just excited about uni.’

Lewis Hope, 18, got an A* in maths, an A in further maths and an A in physics. He’s got a place at The University of Bristol studying maths with physics.

He said: ‘It was difficult in the sense that I had no clue how I had done. But I wasn’t particularly nervous because everyone is in the same boat. I am relieved to have got in. I can’t wait for uni now.’