No one at our multi-academy trust could have imagined the last six months, and no one would have wished the stress and pressure of the last few weeks on the hundreds of young people in our Trust schools who have been waiting for their A-level and GCSE results. Yet here we are at the end of what has been a dark tunnel and I want to pay tribute to the students and teachers who have got here – and recognise their achievements.

Within all of our secondary schools – Wellsway, Sir Bernard Lovell, Bedminster Down, IKB and The Bath Studio School – hundreds of GCSE students achieved a mass of top grades at 9, 8 and 7 (equivalent to an A*/A grade).

There are too many names to pick out individually, but at school level:

• There has been significant progress at SBL (60% of key subject grades were 5 or better, compared to 40% last year) as the school continues to drive ahead under the still relatively new headship of Dean Anderson, with a significant number of students returning for A-levels and 10% accessing apprenticeships and training.
• At BDS after a challenging year for new interim principal, Debbie Gibbs, there were 119 grades at 7 or above – another strong development story. The majority of students are going on to A-levels and just over 10% of students have successfully secured apprenticeships.
• At Wellsway a third of all grades were 9, 8 or 7 - reflecting the school’s historically high academic performance. The highest number of students for the last few years will be entering the school’s sixth form, looking to continue their success.
• IKB, which specialises in STEM subjects, delivered over 20% of all grades in those subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, maths, computing and product design) at a grade 7 or above. More students than ever will continue into the sixth form, creating the largest year 12 cohort to date.
• TBSS, even with a small cohort, produced good results in the creative arts and media areas, ensuring students could move forward to post-16 studies.

Turning to A-level results and students’ futures:

• At SBL, 36% of all entries were at A*-B. 50% of students are moving on to university with several going to Russell Group universities. 30% have gained apprenticeships – despite the current employment challenges.
• Wellsway achieved 73% of all entries at A*-B and once again is sending a large number of students on to university. All 52 students who applied have achieved places, including three going to Oxford or Cambridge and one to read dentistry.
• IKB entries again focused on the STEM subjects at A-level and achieved 56% of grades at A*-B.  By any standard this showed a significant improvement in performance from last year (24%). Amongst the destinations for students are STEM Degrees in Civil Engineering, Motor Sport Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Architecture and Computing.
• At TBSS 86% of entries achieved an A*-B grade reflecting the specialist nature of the subjects taken. Although a very small year group, several TBSS students are going on to exciting Post-18 study in music, television and film, and fashion marketing.

The Chair of the Wellsway Multi Academy Trust, Malcolm Broad, said:

“A fundamental touchstone of our Trust and its schools is to fulfil and optimise the potential of our students – not least when they leave secondary education. Achieving this during the last six months has required discipline and resilience from our students and great support from parents/carers. But just as importantly, remarkable dedication from our teachers and staff – at every level – and to them trustees would like to say well done, huge thanks and your perseverance has delivered.”

As to the future, what has the last six months, and in particular the last two weeks, shown us? Is this a moment for new initiatives? How do we continue to help vulnerable children overcome disadvantage when it comes to schooling? Do we value enough the independent judgement of teachers?

What we have learned is that flexible and imaginative approaches by school leaders and teachers to learning and assessment can, and does, support students, but online learning won’t replace the huge benefits of the classroom and the social aspects of school. Raw exam numbers don’t always show the true educational and personal achievements  of students  and perhaps a range of activities  (including exams) produces a truer assessment – online research, course work, projects, presentations and practical work, for example. Also that headteachers’ and teachers’ knowledge of their students, their professional acumen and sensitivity to pastoral care have a greater value than perhaps the public and government ever recognised before.

The last six months has taught us much, not least the benefits of working as part of a trust – a family of schools – working together for mutual support and benefit. Despite the challenges, Wellsway Multi Academy Trust is emerging from the shadows of lockdown in a position of strength and is looking to the future with hope, positivity and optimism.

Andrea Arlidge
Chief Executive

The Bath Studio School is now closed to all students.

Wellsway Multi Academy Trust is celebrating the resilience and success of its Year 13 students in the face of 2020’s unique challenges.

The trust’s schools have seen improved results in A-levels and vocational equivalents. A number of young people have achieved outstanding outcomes.

Amelia Richards and Daisy Richards at Wellsway School

Three students from Wellsway School in Keynsham have secured Oxbridge places: Megan Sullivan and Andrew Dubois at Cambridge and Nathan Coltart at Oxford. Megan achieved A* grades in biology, chemistry, maths and extended project and will study veterinary science, while Andrew was awarded A* in physics, maths and further maths and As in biology and chemistry and will read natural sciences. Nathan achieved A* in maths and extended project, with As in chemistry and physics and will go on to study chemistry.

Other high-performing students from Wellsway were Edward O’Reilly (A,A,A), Daisy Richards (A*,A*,A) and Amelia Richards (A,A,A).

At Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland Common, Chloe Phillips achieved A,A,A* and will study law at Bristol University. Eloise Wright earned A*A,B and is off to the University of Gloucestershire to study psychology and Hannah Ponter, who achieved A,A,A, will also do psychology at the University of Southampton.

Students who have made exceptional progress at SBL’s post-16 centre include Samadi Peiris, Luci Bailey, Molly Skates and Lisa Wingrove.

Overall, results at SBL have increased significantly in comparison with 2019, with the average grade up by almost a whole grade.

IKB Academy in Keynsham, the trust’s specialist science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) centre, has seen excellent results in STEM subjects for a fourth successive year.

IKB student Harry Richards

Among notable successes are Jasmine Neal-Long, who will pursue her ambition to study civil engineering at Bath University after achieving A* in maths, A in chemistry and Bs in physics and further maths, and Amelia Nicholas, who has been offered a design engineering apprenticeship after gaining a distinction*/distinction in her Btec Level 3 engineering course and a B in A-level product design. Harry Richards secured the grades in Btec Level 3 engineering and product design that will enable him to go on to study architecture at London Metropolitan University.

Other students at the small sixth form are also off to university to follow a range of STEM subjects or are taking up apprenticeships.

The final set of results at The Bath Studio School, a specialist centre for creative and digital subjects, saw some exceptional outcomes. Caleb Cuozzo got a distinction* and distinction in digital media, A* in graphics and A in photography. He will do freelance graphic design work during a gap year before university.

Evie Cameron gained two distinctions and a distinction* in digital media and TV and film and an A* in graphics A-level and will go to London Fashion Retail Academy to study fashion.

Gabriel Spreckelsen-Brown achieved two distinction* and a distinction in his suite of creative media subjects. Gabriel also undertook additional A-Levels in maths and English, achieving Bs in both. Madeleine Spreckelsen-Brown achieved two A*s and a B in fine art, graphics and photography. Gabriel and Madeleine will be moving to Edinburgh with their family to attend university.

The trust’s director of education Gary Schlick said: “We are extremely proud of the way Year 13 students at all our schools have coped with the extraordinary circumstances of recent months.

"Despite the national uncertainty in the process of determining and awarding A-level and equivalent grades this year, we are delighted with the students' results and pleased that almost all have been awarded grades that have enabled them to successfully progress to the next stage of their chosen route in education, training or employment. We wish them all well."