Portsmouth twins hail bond 'closer than friends' as they secure first-choice universities

AFTER months away from school during lockdown it was the power of sisterhood that drove two pupils on to A-level success.
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Twins Natasha and Alicia Small, 18, will progress to their first-choice universities from Portsmouth High School after scooping crack results.

Natasha’s A* in religious studies and Bs in maths and biology have earned her a place to study biology at the University of Exeter.

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Meanwhile Alicia celebrates an offer to study sport and exercise science at the University of Surrey, with Bs in sociology and PE and a C in psychology.

A-level results, Portsmouth High School: Twin sisters Natasha and Alicia Small, 18 from Portsmouth, celebrate getting the results needed to go to university. Picture: Byron MeltonA-level results, Portsmouth High School: Twin sisters Natasha and Alicia Small, 18 from Portsmouth, celebrate getting the results needed to go to university. Picture: Byron Melton
A-level results, Portsmouth High School: Twin sisters Natasha and Alicia Small, 18 from Portsmouth, celebrate getting the results needed to go to university. Picture: Byron Melton

The pair from Portsmouth hailed their close bond as the driving force to success during a year of unprecedented disruption at the mercy of the coronavirus pandemic.

Alicia said: ‘The fact we were both at home when we weren't allowed to see our friends really helped us.

‘We talked to each other about how things are going to be in the future and about our university choices.’

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Natasha added: ‘Because we’ve been through the same experiences we’ve been able to reassure each other and make this situation so much easier.’

Having grown up side by side, the twins’ step up to university will see them truly separated for the first time in their lives.

But the 152 miles and three hours set to separate them won’t get in the way of their kinship.

Alicia said: ‘We’ve lived together our whole lives and been to the same school – everything.

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‘I feel like university will be shocking to begin with because it’s always been so easy to go into the other room and say “how are you?”

‘Now we’ll be a phone call away and trying to arrange to see each other as much as we can.

‘If we’re having any difficulties with our courses I think having someone who’s closer than a friend is more reassuring, because you know they’ll always be honest and give their opinion – rather than sugar-coating the reality.

‘Sometimes that’s what you need, rather than a nice answer.’

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Natasha said: ‘I think we’ll struggle most in first year but as time goes on we’ll still see each other, including at home, so we won't feel too far apart.’

Eighty per cent of Portsmouth High School pupils secured A-level grades A* to B – a six per cent increase on 2019.

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