STUDENTS in Halstead are celebrating success in their A-Levels, despite the massive upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

On the eve of yesterday’s A-level results day, the Government announced it would be adopting what officials have called the ‘triple-lock’ system.

This means students can ultimately choose how to determine their final grades, which this year are based on predictions in lieu of them being able to take actual exams.

Although they can still appeal the decision if unhappy, they can now also pick whichever result is the highest from either estimated grades, previous mocks, or exams which they can take in the autumn.

The pass rate this year, the percentage of A* to E grades, rose in England from 97.5 per cent to 98.2 per cent.

Despite the uncertainly and upheaval Hedingham School said it was proud of its sixth form students, but it was not publishing figures as they were incomparable with 2019’s stats.

Headteacher Andrew Harvison, said: “Our main priority as a school is to ensure our students are provided with the support they need to make their next step. We will address this through the processes offered.

“All students at Hedingham have worked extremely hard to reach this point and we are very proud of them all.

“I would like to thank all students, staff and parents for the commitment they have shown over the last two years.”

Gosfield School, said it had seen continued success for its A-Level students with some outstanding stories of personal achievement.

The private school’s results were impressive, with three quarters of all grades between A* and B, with 40 per cent either an A* or an A.

All students achieved at least a C grade in their grades.

Principal Guy Martyn said: “For a non-selective school such as ours this is a tremendous achievement.

“We’re so pleased even though the world has placed us all into such unusual circumstances, the hard work and perseverance of our students has been rewarded - their future is bright, unaffected by all the changes put upon them.

“With these grades they can all leave to enjoy the course and career they dreamt of. For them, the future really does start today.

“Even though we had the brand new process of student grades being provided by teachers, and then checked and standardised by the exam boards, our teachers know their students so well that grades were awarded with a very high degree of accuracy.

“I am incredibly proud of everything our teachers and all our staff have done to make this possible.”

He added: “The small class sizes and personalised tuition we provide here at Gosfield School make a big difference, and we saw that absolutely in these results.”

Student Kyron achieved all A* and A grades and will now be going to Essex University to study business management.

He said: “It’s amazing. I have no words really, I didn’t think I’d get that, I’m so happy.”

Head Girl Emily will be be pursuing a career in family law, initially working for a solicitors firm, before deciding whether to take up her place at the University of Kent.

She said: “I’m so excited. I get to choose whether to take my University course or not now and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do that.”

Essex County Council will not be publishing performance tables for schools based on grades this year.