Students celebrate top marks on A-Level results day

Ninety per cent of GWA students who applied to go to university were successful, with an overall pass rate of 99 per cent. Seventy-five per cent of students achieved grades ‘C’ or better and a quarter of all students attained places at Russell Group universities.

Individual student highlights include Zinzi Mlotshwa, pictured here, with her proud Geography teacher, Emily Bracey, and Head of Sixth Form, David Smith. Zinzi achieved an amazing three A*s and one A and will be going to Cambridge University to study Geography.

Zinzi said: “All the credit should go to my amazing teachers who encouraged me especially when it got tough.”

Mr Smith said: “When the world says ‘no’ to Zinzi, she always finds a way! She is an amazing young person and we are immensely proud of her and wish her all the best with the next stage of her education.”

Other stand-out results include Charles Maddison, who achieved three As and is off to Bristol University to study Economics. Carol Naiova achieved an A*BC, Matthew Stephenson AABC, while Amberley Buttery achieved ABC.

Not all students have decided to go to university. Maxwell King will join Zurich as an IT and Systems Apprentice and Ibrahim Rostron has a place at the Royal College of Speech and Drama.

Councillor Oladapo Ibitoye, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "I would like to congratulate all students who picked up their A-Level, T-Level and BTEC results today and wish them the very best for the future, whether they continue into further education or embark on the world of work where they will learn and gain valuable experience.

“These are the first set of results since the pandemic, which have been based on external assessment since 2019. It is also the first time that students taking T-Levels will collect their results and is the culmination of two years’ of hard work not only from the students but from teachers and everyone associated with our schools and colleges. All of our secondary schools and colleges are working incredibly hard to improve pupils’ grades, and we will continue to support them through the Swindon Learning Together initiative.”

Annette Perrington, Swindon Borough Council’s Director for Education, Inclusion and Skills, said: “It was really exciting to be part of this important day for our students from Great Western Academy, who have picked up some amazing results. They have worked extremely hard and have been supported by some fantastic teachers, who have worked in partnership with them over the most difficult of times.

“Every Swindon student has strived against all adversity over the last two years, having being through the early stages of the pandemic with their GCSEs and have now taken the next step in their pathway to their future careers. They have shown extraordinary resilience and we are extremely proud of every single one of them.”

Picture caption (left to right): Dave Smith (Head of Sixth Form), Cllr Oladapo Ibitoye (Cabinet Member for Education and Skills), Zinzi Mlotshwa and Geography teacher Emily Bracey