The Beaminster Colfox Joint Sixth Form is celebrating another year of excellent A level results for students, with grades being ‘calculated’ by teachers for the first time due to the Covid-19 situation.

Adam Teasdale, head of sixth form at the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: "It has been challenging this year producing calculated grades but one of the benefits of the joint sixth form is how well we know our students. We have been able to draw on years of experience with our learners to make sure students receive the grades they deserve.”

James See, head of sixth form at Beaminster School, added: “The calculated results were based on the outcomes of some very hard work on behalf of the students and teachers. A range of assessments were used – not just mock exams – to calculate grades we were confident in awarding for all subjects.

"Students worked incredibly hard during their time in the joint sixth form and it has been a pleasure to see them develop and progress during this time. We are delighted that all our students have been successful in winning places at their chosen universities and colleges; the destinations students are heading on to in the new term are very exciting indeed and we wish them all the very best of luck in the future.”

Students receiving technical qualifications from the Yeovil Partnership aspect of the joint sixth form also did well.

Usually, the joint sixth form would list students achieving grades of particular note, but have decided not to publish a list this year due to the exceptional circumstances. However, teachers say the results are in line with previous years, which have seen the joint sixth form perform strongly compared to similar schools.

Adam Shelley, headteacher at Colfox said, “Academic results across the board from all students were excellent, and results from the vocational courses with our partners at Yeovil College were also fantastic, with all our students passing their courses.

"It is wonderful to see many of our technical students’ progress to university through a vocational route. I would like to thank all our students who have shown such resilience in these times of uncertainty. They have had to cope with so many changes and worries about how they will be awarded their grades. Now they can move on to the next set of challenges that are ahead of them. I wish them every success in the future, they are a credit to the joint sixth form, their schools and community.”

Students have now confirmed their places at many of the best universities in the world including Durham, Bristol and UCL, along with Hartpury, Warwick, Reading, Plymouth, Surrey, Royal Holloway, Bath and Sussex amongst many others.

Keith Hales, headteacher at Beaminster School said: “At this unprecedented and extremely difficult time for students, who have not had the chance to prove their knowledge and skills in exams, we had hoped for calm, considerate and reassuring leadership from the government, not the last-minute changes that appeared yesterday. It is to the students’ immense credit that they have risen above the politics and taken responsibility for their results; we are extremely proud of them all.”