Proud of Class of 2020 – Wellington School
13 Aug 2020
Upper Sixth Form students celebrate an unusual year with a socially distanced gathering to celebrate results with staff
Wellington School’s Class of 2020 will be remembered for their resilience, courage and determination in dealing with the challenges of COVID-19. Not being able to complete their final year of education together saw students unable to write their final examinations and created huge uncertainty and anxiety for them and their parents.
Headmaster Eugene du Toit commented, “We are immensely proud of how Upper Sixth students studying for their A Level and BTEC qualifications at Wellington School responded to the adversity they faced. While they could have simply shrugged their shoulders and walked away from their studies, our young men and women completed their Wellington Diploma by undertaking independent research into a topic of their choice and completing a variety of pre-university online courses. Their attitude and achievements were simply outstanding.”
Congratulations go to those Upper Sixth students who have successfully completed their Sports BTEC Level 3 National Diploma. The class of 2020 is the first cohort of Wellington students who have completed this course and we are all very proud of the excellent attitude they have demonstrated towards their studies.
The School celebrates with those A Level and BTEC students who are pleased with their results and stands ready to commit all the academic and pastoral resources at our disposal to support those who are not. We are closely following updates received from Ofqual and the Department for Education and our Sixth Form team will work tirelessly in offering counsel in relation to appeals and university applications.
Students’ A Level results were not the product of them having completed their final examinations, and it is entirely understandable that they feel disappointed not to have had the opportunity to earn their final grades in time-honoured fashion. The system of awarding standardised centre assessment grades sees some of our students feeling satisfied with their outcomes, but sees others feeling sad, frustrated and downright confused.
“I have no doubt that our Upper Sixth leavers will not allow themselves to be defined by lockdown and the impact it had on their final year of school, and have every confidence in them to go on to achieve great things in the future,” concluded Eugene du Toit.