Courageous Journeys Towards Top A-Levels

There was a palpable sense of joy in the air this morning as our Truro School students achieved the School’s highest number of top-level A-Level grades in 10 years*. While it is undoubtedly a time for celebration, it was also a time for reflection as our incredible cohort looked back on their individual journeys at Truro School and the hard work and determination it has taken to gain such wonderful results.

Our students represent a diverse cohort of academic success, with future pathways including top-tier universities in the UK and abroad, medical pathways and apprenticeships in business and aviation. We caught up with a few of them to talk about their time at Truro School and the exciting futures that beckon.

A mixture of beaming smiles and tears of joy, Aimee is one of a plethora of our students who are now embarking on courses in medicine. With two A*s in Biology and Chemistry and an A in Geography (as well as a Distinction in the Level 3 Leiths Extended Certificate in Professional Cookery,) she has secured a place at Exeter Medical School starting in 2025.

“Truro School has been amazing. All of the support from the teachers has been incredible, they are so happy to give as much as is needed. I chose to stay at Truro School for Sixth Form because of the existing network of friends and the security it offered me. But the staff have been amazing, Mrs Wormald in particular.”

Brandon is also embarking on a medical pathway having achieved an A and two Bs. He is now following in his parents’, Nigel and Becky, footsteps and training to be a chiropractor. His mum remarked, “We are feeling so happy and very excited. He is going into the course we both did at university. Brandon had a wonderful time at Truro School. Meeting with his tutors on a 1-2-1 basis and having lots of help with admissions and his personal statement was a real help.”

Another medic with a wonderful conundrum was Ben, who, having achieved an astonishing three A*s in Biology, Chemistry and Maths is now considering numerous possibilities for where to study medicine, with a firm offer from St George’s in London and options for Liverpool and Bristol now on the table.

“Truro School helped me to find my way of learning,” Ben said, “I don’t have much self-motivation but Truro School helped me to stay on track, by setting tasks and offering small classes. I’ve been at Truro School since Nursery, but the Sixth Form environment offered a real change. The teachers treat you like adults and you get access to all the extra-curricular things like the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award too.”

Aimee, Brandon and Ben join five other students pursuing medical pathways, Lara (Medicine at St Andrews), Laura (Medicine at Kent and Medway), Madeleine (Pharmacy), Taerim (Biomedical Sciences) and Loki (Physiotherapy). Commenting on the outstanding success of the students pursuing medical careers, Head of Biology and the Medical Pathways Programme, Susan Havis, remarked, “I am incredibly proud to see so many of our students embarking on the challenging yet rewarding path of medicine. Reaching this stage is a testament to their dedication and hard work and their long-term perseverance. What lies ahead for all of them promises to be an exciting journey filled with opportunities to make a real difference in the world. I wish them every success in their diverse futures.”

Sophia was celebrating an outstanding result in her Ctec PE, with two Distinction*s, equivalent to two A*s. She chose to come to Truro School Sixth Form because of the Ctech course, which she felt better suited her interests and learning style.

“I’m not very good at exams, but the Ctech is all coursework-based, so you can work at your own pace. It is rather like a dissertation; you can send it back and get feedback as you go along.

“The PE team has supported me amazingly well and I know I couldn’t have got these results elsewhere. Starting at Sixth Form was tough, but it has helped me to grow a lot in confidence and see where I want to go. I’m now going to Oxford Brooks University to study Sports Coaching and Physical Education.”

Truro School is well-known for its pastoral care, which sits firmly alongside curricular and extra-curricular excellence. Benji, who achieved a fantastic two A*s and two As, had a tricky time health-wise during his A-Level exams following an accident, but was supported by the school to enable him to excel.

“I chose to stay at Truro School for A-Levels because they offered German and I got 1-2-1 tuition which made it fun. The culture here is that everyone wants and tries to do well.” And what will he miss most about Truro School? “Probably the lunches!” he laughed.

Diggory also thanks Truro School’s pastoral support for helping him through the stresses of Sixth Form life. His mum, Lucy told us, “Diggory has been at Truro School since he was two years old and I feel that at every step we have had brilliant teaching support alongside a fantastic parent community and extra-curricular offering.”

“I was in a really rough place when I started revising for my A-Levels,” Diggory explains, “but Truro School helped me with the early stages of revision. Mrs Richards was a godsend and always there for me.”

Another pupil reflecting on the stresses that A-Levels pose was Macarena, a boarder at Truro School. “I was really stressed but I’ve done better than expected with three As in Spanish, Business and Psychology and a B in English. Truro School has been so great. Any time I emailed teachers for extra support, it was given, whether that was past papers or additional assessments. I’m off to King’s College London to study International Management but I will miss the people, the teachers and the place here.”

Two students who are taking a route into apprenticeships are David, who is embarking on a coveted apprenticeship with Barclays, and Theo. With two A*s and a B in Geology, Business and Maths under his belt, Theo is heading off to train as a pilot with L3Harris in London. “I chose Truro School for Sixth Form because of the teachers and my decision always felt like the right choice. I wouldn’t have got the results I did without the teachers. I’ve constantly annoyed them to go through stuff with me and I’m excited now to start my training.”

Theo’s mum, Joanna tells us, “The school supported him exceptionally well pastorally and academically. There are some key people here who supported him with clinics and 1-2-1 sessions. He has worked so hard and today he got what he deserved. I am absolutely thrilled and very proud.”

Finally, we leave with our Deputy Head Girl, Lexi, who has balanced life as a Team GB Fencer with her scholastic life to achieve two A*s in Maths and Physics and two As in Economics and her AS in Further Maths. These results have secured her first choice of studying Economics and Politics at Durham University.

“I’ve been at Truro School since I was three and started fencing young, I’ve learnt to manage my time well and understand that I perform better when I’m busy and constantly moving.

The school has been incredible and so supportive. The teachers are so good and have been amazing at giving me work before I went away to fence or helping me to catch up when I was back. Having Mrs Jupp as the link between the Fencing School and Truro School was incredible.

I am very grateful for the position of Deputy Head Girl too, which has given me loads of opportunities to develop my skills. I have become much more confident in public speaking, learned a lot from taking part in meetings, and have really benefitted from the experience of working as part of the Senior Prefect Team.

I’ll miss the people, my friends and the beautiful relationships I have with my teachers and the younger pupils. Truro School is a truly special place.”

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our leavers and to wish them well as they embark, with courage, on the next phase of their incredible journeys.

For anyone interested in finding out more about Sixth Form at Truro School, there is an Open Evening being held on Tuesday, 24 September 2024 from 5.00pm – 8.00pm. Find out more via the link below.

Read more about this year’s A-Level results here.

*excluding those years adjusted for COVID-19.