A-level results: How schools in the Portsmouth area have performed this year

Schools across the Portsmouth area have published their full A-level results this morning as students receive their grades.
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Exams this year were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic so pupils have instead been marked on past performance and their mock exam results.

Many schools have opened up this morning so their students can be handed their results in person, although some will be emailing them out instead.

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As well as individual results schools have confirmed how they have performed overall – we have outlined the news from each school below.

High-fliers at Oaklands Catholic School open up their results. Pictured is: (left to right) Anina Sebastian, Cally Wellbelove, Laura Vahey and Eleanor Andrew, all 18.High-fliers at Oaklands Catholic School open up their results. Pictured is: (left to right) Anina Sebastian, Cally Wellbelove, Laura Vahey and Eleanor Andrew, all 18.
High-fliers at Oaklands Catholic School open up their results. Pictured is: (left to right) Anina Sebastian, Cally Wellbelove, Laura Vahey and Eleanor Andrew, all 18.

We will be updating this page as we receive more results.

Our reporters and photographers are also out at local schools this morning – you can read our live updates here.

How has your child’s school performed?

Read More
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Simon Barrable, principal of Portsmouth College. Picture: Habibur RahmanSimon Barrable, principal of Portsmouth College. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Simon Barrable, principal of Portsmouth College. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Havant & South Downs College

Figures show students across all three campuses have achieved very positive results, with an overall pass rate of 97.9 per cent.

53 per cent of students have secured A* to B or equivalent grades and over a quarter of students achieving the very highest A*/ A or equivalent grades.

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Mike Gaston, principal and CEO of HSDC, said: ‘This has been a testing year for both students and staff nationally and locally, and we have been delighted to see how staff and students have responded to online learning and together have constantly looked for creative ways to stay engaged with their studying through Google Classroom.’

Portsmouth Grammar School

With 221 A*-A grades awarded, pupils at The Portsmouth Grammar School are celebrating a good set of A level results.

53 per cent of grades awarded to pupils were A*-A grade – 221 in total; 80 per cent of grades awarded were A*-B (6 per cent up on last year); 96 per cent were A*-C.

‘This is a wonderfully committed year group, who have worked hard throughout their time in the Sixth Form, and brought a fantastic approach to every aspect of school life, despite the challenges of this year,’ said Dr Anne Cotton, Head of The Portsmouth Grammar School. ‘They can be very proud of what they have achieved, and of the hard work, focus and resilience which underpin their academic progress.’

St Vincent College

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The school has confirmed it had a pass rate of 97 per cent, with 63 per cent of its results being ‘high grades’.

Oaklands Sixth Form College

Although exact figures have not been released, headteacher Matthew Quinn said: ‘Although the A Level courses were truncated by school closure, the outcomes are a credit to their hard work and that of our very talented and committed teachers. The school continues to justify its strong reputation at Advanced Level.

‘It is fantastic to see the progress made by many of our students from entry into Year 7 through to Year 13. The high grade profile achieved by our students will mean that the majority should gain entry to the university of their choice.

‘There are a number of notable successes with students achieving Oxbridge places, obtaining the necessary grades to do medicine and other high profile degree and apprentice courses. This is to be celebrated.’

Portsmouth College

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Portsmouth College principal, Simon Barrable, said that under the circumstances he was pleased with the results. 49.3 per cent of students got A* or A grades or a distinction. 97.4 achieved at least a pass.

Mr Barrable said: 'The figures are slightly lower than our predictions but overall I am happy with the results.

'It continues our three year trend of improved results. Within the overall figures there will be some students who have lost out.

'We will never know whether if they had sat the exams they would have done better.'

UTC Portsmouth

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UTC Portsmouth has experienced a large increase in the number of students getting the highest grades.

This year 30 per cent of students attained A and A* grades compared to 9 per cent last year while all students gained at least a pass.

New college principal, James Doherty, said: 'Overall I am really please with the results - particularly as we deliver STEM (science, technology, maths, engineering) which can be harder to attain the highest grades.'

However, the college plans to appeal its results in maths and physics which Mr Doherty said was on average around a grade lower than what the college submitted.

Fareham College

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Staff and students are celebrating an outstanding overall pass rate of 99.4 per cent.

Almost half of the students achieved high grades, with over a quarter achieving the highest grade possible.

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