There was great excitement at The Samworth Church Academy as students attended to collect their A Level results.

Principal at the Mansfield school Lisa McVeigh said: “After a difficult few years for our students and after never taking actual GCSE exams before starting in the Sixth Form, our students have managed to achieve record results for normal external exam years the Academy.

“More than 40% of grades awarded are A*-B reflecting two years of hard work and strong support from home and from our great people here at the Academy. We are extremely proud of our students; of the resilience and positivity they have shown and what they have achieved as a result.

“Today’s results are fantastic and a great cause for celebration. However, we have a long-term and ambitious wide-ranging vision to help all our students have fantastic lives after they leave us, and we will do everything we can to continue to build on today’s success in the years ahead.”

Chris Moodie, chief executive of Diocese Southwell and Nottingham Multi-Academy Trust congratulated the academy, adding: “I am delighted and proud of the students’ achievements this year. In the face of multiple challenges, staff and students have worked exceptionally well together to secure these results. Well done to Lisa McVeigh, her team and all students. We wish them all well in their next steps.”

Student Mae Douglas (A*A, D*) said:  “I am pleased with my results, I did slightly better than I expected. I am going on to do Psychology at the University of Derby. I developed my interest in Psychology during my studies really, after choosing it as an A Level,  and now want to go on to do further studies.

“I am really relieved now that I have my results! My family don’t know yet, and though I know they will be happy with whatever I get, – I think they will be pleased. I am very excited to start something new after the summer. I did feel quite burnt-out after revising, but I think it will be nice to get back in to something new now. I will miss Samworth Church Academy, I have been here from year 7 and made good friends here, but I am also happy to be starting something new.”

Student Cassidy Wilson- Brown, (A,B,B) added: “I wasn’t expecting these results, they are better than expected and it is such a relief. I was so worried I felt sick coming in to collect them. I am going to Liverpool University to study History next. That makes me a bit nervous, and I will miss Samworth Church Academy because I have made great friends here.

“I really enjoyed studying history at Samworth and I know I will enjoy university. I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to Mr Allott, my Film and Media Studies teacher, who provided such a lot of support during my time here.”

Nathan Bunting is going on to study at Nottingham Trent University and said: “My results were slightly better than expected and I am going on to study criminal justice next. I am a bit sad today knowing I am moving on after seven years, but happy for the next stage to begin. Some of my friends are going to the same place so that will be good.”

Lauryn Walker, Nathan’s friend will also study at Nottingham Trent University, her subject, Music and Performance.

She said: “My results are a lot better than I thought, I am shocked. I didn’t think I would do badly, I don’t want to say that! But I am really pleased with my results. I haven’t told my family yet and I think they will be shocked. I wasn’t expecting a Distinction in Psychology but I actually got one.

“I will definitely miss Samworth Church Academy though!”

Lauryn said she first got into musical performance as a child, and has always wanted to pursue it as a career.

“Samworth Church Academy has really helped me with my interest in music and performing. The music teacher, Mr Dilkes, has taught us lots of different aspects from production, to music and more. I am planning on using everything I have learned to do all aspects – I want to sing, to dance, to act, everything!”

Kirsty Price, Vocational and Social Sciences teacher, said of Nathan and Lauryn: “They are both excellent students, not only in their work, but in their enthusiasm. They have great personalities and I wish them both all the best for the future.”

Notable results were:

Jack Gregory AAB

Kristians Dambitis-Princs AAB

Mae Douglas A*A,D

Sam Kerry A*AB

Millie Morton A*AB

Martin Ralph AAB

Sarah Tilbrook A*BB

Cassidy Wilson Brown ABB

Pictured top are, back row, Mae-Douglas, Louis-Smith and, front row, are Sam Bridges and Joe Reynolds-Wood