The staff at Holy Trinity Church of England Secondary School in Crawley commended all their students on their achievements. As well as top achievers gaining three As and A* many students also achieved excellent results, including a number who far exceeded their targets.

Headteacher The Revd. Chrissie Millwood said: “I am so proud of the many individual success stories against the backdrop of considerable personal challenge over the last two years.It is wonderful to see our students moving on to their chosen universities whilst others are beginning opportunities within the world of work.I am thankful to our committed staff for the support they have provided our students during their post-16 studies.Ultimately this day belongs to our students as it represents the rewards they now reap because of their continuous and tremendous work ethic, resilience and love of their subjects studied.No matter what their next steps are I wish them every success.”

GCSE students at Bishop Luffa near Chichester produced a sparkling set of GCSE results. Overall, 84% students passed both English and Maths, with an average grade of 5.6 for the whole year group. 62% students achieved grade 5 or higher in English and Maths.

The A-Level students also achieved great results. 40% of grades achieved were A*-A, 69% were A*-B and 91% were A*-C. 75% students will be attending their first-choice university, despite this being a difficult year for university admissions.

Headteacher Austen Hindman said: ‘This group of students were taking national exams for the first time. They’ve been through lockdowns and online learning, and many of them had Covid while taking their exams. Despite this they have achieved an amazing set of results. We are incredibly proud of them.

“These students have been leaders throughout the last two years, helping younger students cope with the pressure of Covid and showing us all how important community is. They are a year group that we will never forget.”

St Catherine’s College, Eastbourne bucked the national trend as it celebrated its best ever results.Headteacher Mr Berhane responded by saying: “Congratulations to our class of 2022. The students have worked amazingly hard with our dedicated staff. They fully deserve their success. The school feels blessed to be serving its community and I particularly want to thank the parents, staff and students for their unwavering love, care and support through a challenging few years.”

80% of students achieved a pass grade in both English and Maths; over 26% of all exams were awarded grade 7-9 (A/A*).

Students at Steyning Grammar School achieved excellent outcomes which will enable them to go on to study at university or pursue their desired careers, amongst other destinations. 

Following two years of disruption, students at the school, which is supported by Bohunt Education Trust (BET) have been working extremely hard towards their exams.

Claire Monahan, Head at Steyning Grammar School Sixth Form, said: “We are delighted with the results and outcomes that our students here at Steyning Grammar School Sixth Form have achieved and impressed by the resilience they have shown throughout their post 16 studies. All our students, and staff alike, have worked extremely hard over the last two years showing real grit and commitment, and today’s achievements are testament to that.”

Davison CE High School for Girls, Worthing, achieved a great set of positive GCSE with headteacher Chris Keating reflecting on the resilience of the students: “I would like to congratulate our students on achieving excellent results! They have worked extremely hard and have shown such resilience in overcoming the many hurdles that they were faced with. I am delighted to see that their collective effort has paid such dividends. I wish this incredibly talented and enthusiastic year group the very best of luck in their future studies. I have no doubt that they will continue to achieve great things as they move forward. My sincere thanks go to our staff, governors and the students’ families for all the help, support and encouragement they have given over many years.”

Ark Alexandra, Hastings had plenty to celebrate. The year 13 students were thrilled after securing high marks, with a third of results achieving A*/A, and bursaries worth £60,000, enabling several students to study at top universities. The schools GCSE and BTEC results were equally well received.

Principal Liam Collins said:"If ever there was a cohort of Year 11s who deserved congratulations on their GCSE and BTEC results, it is undoubtedly the class of 2022. No group of students in postwar Britain has suffered a more disrupted education than they have. The Covid pandemic left ineradicable marks on their schooling. It disrupted their teaching and disturbed their study and their exams. It also had an often-traumatic impact on their home lives, those of their families and friends, and their development into young adults. We are so proud of their hard work and resilience. They should wear their achievement as a generational badge of honour.

St Andrew’s High School Worthing’s headteacher spoke of a ‘turbulent 18 months. Ms Lowney, said she had been consistently impressed by the students as they have risen to every challenge that that have been set.She said: “From adapting to remote learning, to embracing the rise of their GCSE target grades, to supporting the transition to becoming a co-educational school this September. Our students have shown resilience, grit and determination to achieve their very best, embodying our school motto ‘nihil sine labore’ – nothing without work.

These results show the aspiration and ambition our community has maintained throughout a turbulent 18 months.It represents the extraordinary commitment and perseverance I have seen every day from both our students and staff which will most certainly inspire our whole community to continue to aspire to reach their potential next year and beyond."

Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education, The Venerable Luke Irvine-Capel, congratulated all who received their GCSE and A level results. He said: “With colleagues across our Church of England schools and the Diocesan Board of Education, I am extremely proud of the fortitude, adaptability and determination shown by these young people who have faced such disruption and uncertainty in their education during the pandemic. The outstanding commitment and professionalism of our teachers and school communities, along with the support and encouragement of families and friends, has ensured that this cohort of students can delight in their achievements and are now able to move on with confidence to the next stage.

“May the prayer of St John Henry Newman strengthen them all: “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another…He knows what He is about.”

Main picture: Staff and students at Ark Academy