A-level results day 2023: North Norfolk exam success

Hundreds of students flocked to Sheringham High School and Sixth Form, Paston College in North Walsham and Gresham's School in Holt to discover the results of the past two years' hard work.

This year's graduating students had faced Covid disruption to their education, as they were part of the cohort who did not sit their GCSE exams – meaning their A-levels were their first formal exams.

But Sheringham High School headteacher Alastair Ogle said students at the school bucked a national trend of falling grades. 

READ MORE: A Levels results day 2023: Live updates from Norfolk and Waveney

Martha Shawyer, Oscar Keeble, Oliver Carpenter, Harry Moorfoot (Image: Adam Barker)

 “We are immensely proud of the superb achievements of all our students, and we congratulate them on their success,” Mr Ogle said.

“Our students have worked incredibly hard and demonstrated considerable resilience over the past few years. They thoroughly deserve their success.”

One student, Martha Shawyer, whose three A*s got her into Cambridge University.

Harry Moorfoot was another high achiever, securing a place at the University of York with A*s in both English and geography.

Paige Sadler-Barker exceeded her expectations, achieving straight A grades in art, criminology and psychology.

Paige Sadler-Barker and Fiona-May Swanson (Image: Adam Barker)

“I’m so pleased,” she said.

“It’s weird to think I’m making adult decisions now, but I’m excited to start the next chapter of my life.

“I think the teachers all expected us to know what to do in the exams even though we didn’t sit out GCSEs.

“We sat our exams in the sixth form common room rather than the hall, which helped because it was somewhere we were all more familiar and comfortable with.”

Daisy Pearson, who will be studying physiotherapy at the UEA next year, is also excited about her next step, and said that although the revision was "tough" receiving her grades was "really rewarding".

Daisy Pearson, who will be studying Physiotherapy at the UEA next year (Image: Adam Barker)

There were also celebrations at North Walsham's Paston College.

Craig Osborne, the college's head of A-levels, said: “We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our students who come from across north Norfolk to study at Paston.

"For most, this was the first time they had sat a full exam season.

"Considering the lasting impact of Covid disruption on all students’ learning, it is particularly impressive that over 40pc of Paston students' grades were either A*, A or B.

"This is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and we wish them every success with their next steps.” 

Katy Franklin, Kiera Braithwaite and Olivia Double at Paston College (Image: Supplied)

Martha McCarter achieved A*s in law and sociology and an A in criminology.

"I felt elated, relieved and very surprised, because I was not expecting that," she said.

"It means a lot because obviously I missed all of my GCSE exams and you’re just thrown into these bigger ones with all of this revision.

"I think it means more than it would have if I had done my GCSEs because it was even more of a challenge than they normally are, and A-Levels are a huge challenge regardless."

Martha secured a place at the UEA to study social work.

William Chenery said he was "over the moon" to three As in maths, geography and business.

"I couldn’t believe it," he said.

"I was panicking the whole way here. I didn't think I was going to get the A in maths."

William is also UEA-bound, studying actuarial science.

William Chenery (Image: Supplied)

Hard work paid off for Oakley Bowman, who bagged himself Bs in physics, maths and environmental sciences.

"I put in a lot of hours studying here and self-study as well," he said.

"I worked as hard as I could - as humanly possible really."

Oakley is also off to the UEA to study energy engineering.

A-level grades awarded to students in England have seen their biggest drop on record, plummeting across the board as the government returned to pre-pandemic grading.

Oakley Bowman (Image: Supplied)