Excelsior Sixth Formers Celebrate Results Success After Challenging Two Years

Staff and parents of Excelsior Academy sixth formers are delighted with the A Level and vocational results published today.

For the last two years, against the backdrop of pandemic disruption, the Excelsior young people have demonstrated huge amounts of determination and resilience to achieve their final grades.  For many, these exams were the first external assessments since sitting their SATs at age 11.  The talented students are going to use these results to progress to a range of different and exciting routes in their education journey. 

A wide range of degrees are going to be pursued this year including biomedical science, law, animation, nursing and computing.  Among the 40+ students going on to degree level study, Kenzie is going to Edinburgh Napier to study mechanical engineering, Ellie is going to study creative film, TV and digital media production at Northampton and Courtney is completing a musical theatre course at Newcastle College University Centre. 

Excelsior pupils also progress on to a variety of different pathways.  Among these, we have students doing apprenticeships in regional youthwork, cyber security for Virgin Money and some will continue their journey in the academy working as apprentices for the Laidlaw Schools Trust.

Academy Principal, James Andriot, said: “I am in awe of all our students receiving results this summer.  Not only have they endured the disruption of two lockdowns at the height of the pandemic but many of them have not sat externally assessed exams for five years.  The Excelsior sixth formers have remained calm, focused and well-motivated throughout.  Today, they are celebrating their endeavours and will be able to progress to exciting and fulfilling futures.  We wish them the very best and look forward to welcoming the new starters to the academy in September”.

Laidlaw Schools Trust CEO, Ian Simpson, shared Mr Andriot’s sentiments: “For a year group affected more than most at a critical stage of their education, the staff who taught and supported them through the challenges of Covid have done a wonderful job.  I’m delighted for the children who have achieved grades they can be proud of and take them to a positive destination for either work, apprenticeship or University”.