Although it might not be true across the country, Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne says the vast majority of students got the results they required in this year’s A-levels exams.

Headteacher, Katie Boyes, said: “At Queen Elizabeth’s School we are absolutely delighted with the results of our Year 13 students.

“Following the pandemic, students within this cohort did not sit exams at the end of Year 11 and therefore these exams have been the first set of external examinations that they have sat.

“All of the students have worked exceptionally hard throughout their time as members of the QE family and the results that they have achieved are tremendous. We are incredibly proud of each and every student and congratulate them all on their individual achievements.

“The vast majority of students have accepted a place at their first choice university or apprenticeship. The hard work, determination and resilience that every student has shown under the circumstances that they have faced over the last few years of their educational journey is remarkable.

“They are an exceptional, inspiring, and talented group of individuals and we wish them all the best for their future endeavours.”

Some stand-out achievements and planned destinations include:

Kerry Allen (A, A, B) – English at Winchester

Katie Barton (A, A, B) – Biomedical Sciences at Warwick

Edward Burgess (A, A, A) – Apprenticeship at BDO

James Carter (A*, A*, A*, A*) – Conservation at East Anglia

Edward Clark (A*, A, A) – Computer Science at Bristol

Kai Franklin (A, A, A, B) – Medicine at Bristol

Laura Freeman (A*, B, B) – Pharmacy at Bath

Sarah Graham (A, A, A) – Geography at Durham

Grace Hall (A*, A, A) – Politics at Sheffield

Niamh Hopcroft (A, A, B) – Criminology at Bristol

Erin Hyslop (A*, A, B, B) – Economics at Manchester

Hannah Lee (A*, A, A) – Geography at Exeter

Sophie Mann (A*, A, Distinction*) – Law at Birmingham

Jed Moran (A, A, B) – Gap Year then Health & Exercise Science at Bath

Joe O’Connor (A*, A, Distinction*) – Foundation Year at AUB

James Payne (Distinction**, Distinction*) – Sport and Exercise Science

Jamie Richardson (A, A, B) – Economics at Loughborough

Dominic Rose (A*, A*, A) – Mechanical Engineering and Computational Engineering and Design at Southampton

Lydia Sheridan (A*, A, B) – Apprenticeship with JP Morgan

Toby Sinkinson (A, A, B) – Photography at Falmouth

Isabelle Strange (A*, A*, A*) – Foundation year at AUB

Madeleine Vertigen (A, B, Distinction*) – Law at Exeter

Harrison Weaver (A*, A*, A, A)- Mechanical Engineering at Bath

Benjamin Williams (A, A, B, B) – Maths at Loughborough

Evie Wright (A, A, B) – Psychology at Southampton

In addition Emily Blachford achieved a Distinction in her B-Tech business exam despite suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

She attended just 30 per cent of lessons over the two years and spent much of her time learning from home.

Emily, from Wimborne, who also received a Merit in her B-Tech Health and Social Care exam, said: “I’ve had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since I was 10.

“It has taken me away from learning and I had to use power points at home to learn from.

“With the syndrome you have to pace yourself and if you do too much you get brain fog.

“Fortunately I had really supportive teachers who got me through the exams, and my parents have been hugely supportive too.

“I’m now very excited about starting an apprenticeship with Hays Travel.”