A Level students in Bridport area receive their results

It was all smiles throughout West Dorset as students collected their much-anticipated A Level results.

The final grades were determined by teachers after this summer's exams were cancelled.

Tom McDonald, Jess Tweson, Nathan Moorey, Grace Jenkin, Robin Harris collecting their results at Woodroffe School

The Sir John Colfox Academy, Beaminster Secondary School and Woodroffe School all reported a good round of results this year.

At the joint sixth form of Colfox and Beaminster, almost every student applying for university was granted their first choice. All students applying have now had their places confirmed and are preparing for their next steps.

Alfie Webb and Charlie Smith collect their results at Beaminster School

Alfie Webb, a student at Beaminster School, will be studying physics at Birmingham University after receiving four A* grades.

He said: "I'm very pleased with the results, and it's definitely a relief to have gotten it out of the way.

"It was a very unusual time to do A Levels and it felt like we were missing out on quite a lot. I think the school handled it really well, but it wasn't ideal. Most people seem to have got the results they want though which is great."

Another Beaminster student Oli Will achieved the results he needed and will go on to study physics at Southampton University.

Oli Will and Emily Sanger collect their results at Beaminster School

He said: "I'm pretty happy with the results, it's been a weird couple of years. The lockdowns were very hard, particularly the first one as it was very hard to stay motivated from home. It was the worst year to study for A Levels but we got there in the end."

Smiles all round! Students celebrate results at Colfox

Adam Teasdale, head of sixth form at the Sir John Colfox Academy said, “We are so proud of all of our students. They have been resilient, positive, mature and committed to their studies and all have worked extremely hard to gain the results they deserve. One of the benefits of the Joint Sixth Form is how well we know our students.”

James See, head of sixth form at Beaminster School, said: “We are delighted with the achievements of our students and pleased that they have secured places at their universities of choice, degree level apprenticeships and in the workplace.”

Olive Fitzgerald and Holly Thompson achieved three A* results each

Dan Watts, headteacher at Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, said: "We are immensely proud of our students and wish them the very best for the future. We will continue to offer our full support and assistance to all those who need it during the coming days and weeks. These are unprecedented times and together we succeed.

"This has been a very challenging year for all students and the significant disruption to education has been felt most keenly by those who should have taken their final exams this summer. Our school has a long track record of academic excellence and this year, despite the difficulties faced, is no different. Our students have achieved incredibly well and will continue to do so within their chosen new destinations.

Excited Colfox student Daniel Martins finds out he has two A* and an A

"Students will be leaving Woodroffe to take places at many of the top universities in the country and I am pleased to say that the vast majority of students secured excellent university places. We wish them well and are confident that they are on course to succeed at degree level and beyond."

A number of students throughout all three schools received a number of A* grades, with four students from the joint sixth form of Colfox and Beaminster earning four A* and six Woodroffe students receiving three A*.

Beaminster students: Ben Leather (left) received 4 A*, Marcus Caile (right) received 2 A*

Nationally, the proportion of A-level entries awarded an A grade or higher has risen to an all-time high, with 44.8 per cent securing the top grades this year.

Keith Hales, Headteacher at Beaminster School said, “This year, following the cancellation of exams, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards.

Woodroffe students Jack Stafford, Spencer Vacher and Sonny Makepeace were happy with their results (and their ice cream!)

"Students deserve huge credit for their fortitude in such circumstances, and teachers for the enormous amount of work they put into implementing the system at great speed. The government is not publishing performance data for any schools or colleges this year due to the varying impact of the pandemic.”

Colfox students Ellen Pearce (left) and Felecia Ackerman (right) celebrate their results

Adam Shelley, Headteacher at Colfox said, “These are results to be proud of. Students have worked so hard to achieve fantastic results while their education has been disrupted due to the pandemic.

"The results they have achieved will allow them to move in to the next phase of their education or employment which is absolutely brilliant.”