Students across Dorset have been celebrating as they collected their long-awaited A-level results.

For many this will be their first set of major exams, having missed out on doing GCSE exams due to the pandemic.

Students at Dorset schools including Thomas Hardye in Dorchester, Budmouth Academy in Chickerell, Weymouth College, Beaminster School and Sir John Colfox Academy all picked up their results on Thursday, August 15.

They found out if they have the grades to be accepted onto university courses or secure an apprenticeship.

The Dorset schools have reached an agreement not to publicise the pass rate percentages.

Students at Budmouth Academy collected their results starting at 8.30am.

Principal Mike Hoffmann said: “The students have worked especially hard for these qualifications. Due to the pandemic, this is the first set of public examinations the students have taken part in since primary school. It was great to see so many happy students who are off to university or work, with the very best qualifications possible”.

Talia Collins was emotional as she received her results. Her results were a little lower than she hoped, but she still managed to get her first choice and will be studying English at Southampton. She said: "I am just a bit emotional, I have been crying."

Connor Mowlam is pleased with his results, having done better than expected. He will be studying art at Manchester University and hopes to become a storyboard artist for animated tv shows. He said: “My results are better than expected, I am actually really pleased with them.

“I have always wanted to do art so I am really excited. I would love to be a storyboarder for animated kids shows. This is a step in the right direction.”

Yvie Pering will be doing adult nursing at the University of Southampton. She said: “I am so overwhelmed I am just so happy for everyone .”

Amelia Hartley, says she feels amazing after achieving the grades she needs to start her law degree apprenticeship with Burges Salmon in Bristol. She said: “It feels amazing, it is such a relief after waiting for so long.

“They were my first proper exams ever really and that made them more nerve-wracking.”

  • At Thomas Hardye’s School in Dorchester, students nervously opened those all-important envelopes containing their results.

Headteacher Nick Rutherford said: “The students have done fantastically well and have been very resilient, positive and worked very hard through what has probably been a harder process through not having that experience of having sat GCSE exams.”

Leonie Cobban is Cambridge University-bound after racking up three A*s in English Literature, French, chemistry and an A in history.

“It feels surreal,” she said. “I was too nervous to open the results so my brother had to do it for me and read out the results to me!”

Leonie will study for a degree in human, social and political sciences.

Ryley Hazel of Weymouth said he was ‘absolutely over the moon’ with his three A*s in law, psychology and English. He’s off to UWE Bristol to study law.

He said: “Doing our GCSEs during Covid was one of the most challenging things to deal with. I’m absolutely over the moon to get these results.”

Law teacher Peter Smith was delighted with his students’ 100% pass rate.

“All the students are pleased.” he said.

Also achieving outstanding results were Beth Simons of Dorchester with three A*s in further maths, computer studies and physics and George Bendall of Weymouth with three A*s in biology, chemistry and physics.

Suzie King of Dorchester is hoping to be off to drama school after achieving an A* in English, a distinction star in performing arts, an A in theatre studies and an A in EPQ research.

  • Students at Weymouth College celebrated a successful A-level results day with plenty of hugs and cheers.

The college’s A-Level students achieved an outstanding overall pass rate of 100% in all 16 subjects – with 62% achieving A*- C.

Student Stefan Morris is off to an apprenticeship with the Met Office in three weeks and is happy with his A-level results achieving a two distinction stars (D*) and a distinction in computing.

Lewis Timms from Weymouth College is very happy with his results and is off to Bournemouth University to study media production and would like to go into the film or TV industry.

Lewis achieved an A in media studies, a B in geography and a C in photography.

Scott Andrewartha and Josie Kirkham studied on the same courses.

They opened their results together and both plan to continue on at Weymouth College next year.

Josie said: “I’m glad it’s over and we get to do it all again next year.”

She would like to study English Language at Swansea University.

Ewan Saunders achieved 2 As and a B in geography, photography, and sociology.

Ewan said: “I’m not too sure what I’m going to do but I’m hoping to study geography at university.”

Martin Oliver, Director of Curriculum and Skills, said: “These results are a fantastic accomplishment that reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment of our students and their supporting staff.

“Students are now looking forward to progressing onto higher education or entering the workforce and we wish them the best of luck in their future careers.”