The Friary School’s Year 11 results brought lots of success stories, and though national reports painted a picture showing sharply reduced grades with the removal of allowances for COVID in England, there was lots to celebrate as so many of our students overcame all the hurdles to shine.

The exam results saw strong performance across both academic and vocational subjects – building on last week’s A-Level results – and the overwhelming majority of students secured their first-choice destinations as they move forward with their studies.

Amidst almost 2,000 grades across the Year group, there were individual challenges related to bereavement, mental health and personal well-being adversities which in so many cases were overcome in the best possible way.

The top-grade performers achieved a string of stunning grades and these included:

Eve Neenan – 9 x 9s & 1 x 8
Harriet Dadds – 6 x 9s, 2 x 8s
Alice Thackaberry – 4 x 9s, 5 x 8s
Pawel Kluk – 3 x 9s, 6 x 8s
Chloe Butler – 3 x 9s, 4 x 8s, 1 x D*		 Amy Robertson – 1 x 9, 7 x 8s, 1 x D*
Jack Yeomans – 1 x 9, 4 x 8s, 2 x D*s
Lilah Boxall – 2 x 9s, 6 x 8s
Emma Mackenzie – 1 x 9, 4 x 8s, 1 x D*
Daisy Holian – 1 x 9, 5 x 8s

Meanwhile, a huge number of students made incredible progress since joining the school from their primary stage including:

Poppy Grimshaw
Rosie Murray
Eisha Acheson
Ava Niven
Madeleine Walters		 Cameron Thain
Kieran Bennett
Oliver Rogers
Luca Lombardi
Finbar Birchall

Bex Oldfield, Assistant Headteacher, said: “Every single one of our students has reasons to celebrate and it was fantastic to see them come in on Results Day to see the sum of all their efforts. The individual relationships we build up in after-school boosters, field trips, mentoring sessions, and via day-to-day life are what we place most stock in because they usually play a major part in exam success. We are so pleased for our students and our families – they matter to us a great deal and all of our efforts  are to help our students become the very best they can be.”. 

Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “It is difficult to gauge, but the educational and societal legacy of the COVID pandemic has perhaps affected this current Year group more than any other. They faced major disruption in the critical years heading up to their GCSEs, were then straight into their examination courses, and have then seen the COVID mitigation withdrawn. Like our students, our staff have worked incredibly hard to help every child get over their individual lines, but though most have got there, there are some that we know would have been in a stronger position had international events not got in the way. Lots to celebrate, lots learnt, and more to do – we’ll catch our breath for a day and then go again.”