Year 11 students at Hucknall's National C of E Academy were celebrating this morning as they secured places at Hucknall Sixth Form Centre, local colleges, and apprenticeships.

The students collecting their results today have been awarded grades that were calculated using rigorous internal assessment and teacher assessments which have undergone extensive external quality assurance.

There were a number of notable successes, including Emily and Jamie who were the highest achieving students, with seven grades 9s and two grade 8s. They were closely followed by Dylan who achieved four grades 9s, four grade 8s and a grade 7.

Principal Martin Brailsford said: "For the second year running, in the face of adversity, our students have performed brilliantly and received the grades that they deserved. Throughout this year, students successfully managed to ignore the distractions and uncertainty surrounding exams, take on board advice and focus on their learning and their performance in assessments.

"We have seen Year 11 go from strength to strength and following a very robust and fair checking process, which included successful checks from exam boards, they can now start to plan and prepare for next year and open a new chapter in their lives."

Mr Brailsford also wanted to acknowledge the support parents and other family members had played in supporting students. He continued: "We cannot underestimate the role families play in the education of children. With parts of the year being taught remotely and other pressures related to covid affecting so many people, our students would not have achieved what they have without considerable support from home, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their efforts last year which have so clearly had an impact".

Chair of Governors Kirsty Cowley said: "The last two years have been incredibly difficult for all our staff and students, but these results are a credit to the determination and resilience of our young people and the dedication of our staff. I hope our students are as proud of themselves and their results as we are. We wish them well with all future endeavours and look forward to hearing about the great things that we know they will achieve."

Many of the year group will now continue their studies onto A Levels and further qualifications. Indeed, over 100 students from the academy have applied to continue into sixth form based at the Hucknall Sixth Form Centre alongside peers from the Holgate Academy, Queen Elizabeth's Academy and a number of students recruited from other centres.