400 Pupils at Olchfa School Celebrate A-Level Success

THE waiting was finally over for around 400 A and AS-level pupils at Olchfa School in Swansea, and headteacher Julian Kennedy paid tribute to their effort and hard work.
“We are very pleased with the results overall,” he said. “They are broadly as we expected, continuing the long tradition of academic excellence at the school in combination with a focus on wider life and pupil wellbeing.
“We wish everyone every future success, whether they are heading off to university, employment or travel if if they plan to return to year 13 next year. Many thanks to all the staff and to our parents and carers who have worked together to support and guide our young people. Llongyfarchiadau pawb! Congratulations to them all.”
Pupil Harshita Rani received good news. She got an A* in design and technology, an A in maths and in Welsh baccalaureate, and a B in physics. She is going to Cardiff University to study architecture. “I’m very happy with my results,” said the 18-year-old.
Iolo Kennedy got an A* in maths, further maths, politics and Welsh baccalaureate. “Obviously I’m over the moon,” he said. Iolo, 18, is going to Bath University to study maths. “The course there really appeals to me – it’s four years with a one-year placement – and it’s a lovely place to live,” he said.
Sara Iza Paez, 18, got an A in Spanish and in design and technology, and an A* in Welsh baccalaureate. Like Harshita, she is going to study architecture at Cardiff University. “I guess I’m happy,” she said. “They were the grades I needed to get into Cardiff.”
Harris Perez Celorrio got an A in maths and in economics, and Bs in politics and Welsh baccalaureate. He’s going to study economics at Cardiff University. “I’m glad to get in,” said the 18-year-old. “I’m definitely happy.”
Parsa Eskandari, 17, is hoping to study mechanical engineering at Bristol University after getting an A* in A-level maths and As in his physics, chemistry and maths AS-levels. “I’m pleased – it was hard work,” said Parsa.
The pupils said A-levels were a big step up from GSCEs. “I don’t think I was prepared for it,” said Harris. “I got quite a big shock when I got my AS results.” Iolo added: “You’ve got to put more work in.”
Top grades at A-level dropped in Wales this month after a move away from more generous grading during and immediately after the Covid pandemic. A total of 29.9% of the grades were A* and A this sumer, down from 34% last year.
“This year is the first year where we’ve got a return to normal assessment and grading arrangements,” said Philip Blaker, chief executive of exams watchdog Qualifications Wales. There has also been a notable fall in the number of 18 year-olds applying for university.
In Swansea, the overall pass rate (grades A* to E) of 97.9% was above the Welsh average of 97.4%. Swansea Council said the results were excellent with 33.7% being the top A*-A grades.  Overall 77.3% of grades were C or better in Swansea, which was above the Welsh average. It added that just over half the maths A-level results were A* or A.
Swansea’s cabinet member for education and learning, Cllr Robert Smith, said: “All our A-level students deserves huge congratulations for their achievements this year and I wish them the very best for their futures and hope they will look back fondly on their time at our excellent schools in Swansea. Of course their achievements would not have been possible without the hard work and support of our schools and our teachers, as well as students’ families, so I’d like to thank all who contributed to today’s success.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​