A Level Results – 17 August 2023

Students at Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy in Birtley have much to celebrate as they collect their A-level and vocational qualification results this year.

There were excellent results for many students. Top-performing students include Lewis Heppell (A*A*A), Beth Davison (A*AA), Thomas Fairbrother (A*AA), Emily Malloy (A*AA), Abigail Loftus (A*A*B), Georgia Forbisher (A*AB), Katie Francis (AAA), Lauren Kelsall (A*AB), Richard Oloton (A*AAB) and Sophie Ormerod-Harrison (A*A*AB).

These students, alongside many others, met their offers to study at prestigious local and national universities, including Durham, Newcastle and University College London.

Many students overcame extreme personal difficulties to gain their grades. Students who made particularly impressive progress included Harley Vipond, Tom Taylor, Sam Barron and Alex Adams.

Lord Lawson students have also been successful in gaining higher level apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships in computing, finance, architecture and civil engineering, with notable local employers. Vocational subjects performed particularly well at the school this year, including Business, Computing, Psychology, and Health and Social Care.

Overall, results showed that the school continues to make very good progress. Strong results were gained by students across a broad curriculum: leading subjects include English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Geography and the Arts. Politics and Sociology, which saw their first results last year, continued to see excellent grades this year.

Andrew Fowler, the academy’s Principal said, “I am absolutely delighted for our students, and I congratulate them on their success. These results are the product of the students’ hard work and the improvements in teaching at the school. These students have not had a ‘normal’ school year since 2018-19, when they were in Year 9. In Years 10 and 11, their schooling was disrupted through national lockdowns and local COVID restrictions. Even this year, their education was disrupted by strikes and national events. They did not sit GCSE examinations in Year 11, so these A-level and vocational courses were their first experience of formal examinations.

“They have performed brilliantly! The results are a credit to the students themselves, and to their parents and teachers. I am delighted to see so many happy faces today, and to know that our students are moving on to a bright future at university, apprenticeships and employment.”

Head of Sixth Form, Alison Jordan said, “I am delighted with all the results, as the students have worked extremely hard and had to contend with so much disruption to their education. Some students have overcome personal circumstances and made significant progress during their time in our sixth form. The students should feel very proud of their achievements.”

Students interested in joining Lord Lawson’s successful sixth form are encouraged to contact Mrs Jordan: [email protected]