This year is even more meaningful given the impact of the pandemic, which saw the cancellation of national exams, two national lockdowns requiring remote teaching and learning to continue through use of technology from home, and uncertain disrupted school routines due to COVID-19 and periods of self-isolation for students and staff. 

Students Joe Hannon, Elliot O’Connor, Caitlin Taylor, Millie Rowsell, Reggie West and Jack Stone topped this year’s results haul with a very impressive 18 A*s and 3 As between them!

Principal, Justine Mason, said, “In a year like no other, it was an absolute pleasure to welcome our Year 13 students back on site to receive their Advanced Level or Level 3 qualifications. The journey to this year’s Results Day has certainly been unlike any other we have ever known or could ever have imagined and we hugely commend the maturity and resilience our young people have shown in the most difficult of circumstances. Today is all about looking forward rather than back though and it is with great excitement that we work with our students and their families now to ensure each and every one of them can progress on to the next stage of their life as they’d intended.”

Staff were on hand to support with next steps and to ensure every student had the support needed to secure the university course, apprenticeship or employment they hoped for.

Director of Post 16, Kairn Stone, said, “Whilst all of our students have achieved fantastic results, members of our student leadership team have continued to perform exceptionally well and build on their GCSE results. They have grown as leaders and, through their work on recycling and sustainability at Hele’s School and across Plymouth, they have made significant improvements for the student community and leave such a positive and lasting legacy for those following in their footsteps.”

Head Girl, Holly Roser, achieved grades A, A, Distinction* and will be studying Tourism Management at Bournemouth University. 

Deputy Head Girl, Millie Rowsell, has finished her Hele’s School career with a bagful of top grades - building on the 8 grade 9 GCSE grades previously, her 3 A* grades at A level cap off an exceptional 7 years at Hele’s School!  

Head Boy, Joe Hannon, also built on his success at GCSE where he achieved 6 grade 9s at GCSE and an A* in Latin, to secure 3 A* grades and 1 A at A level.  Joe will be studying Mathematics and Philosophy at the University of Warwick.

Caitlin Taylor and Elliot O’ Connor achieved 6 grade 9s and 3 A*s to further highlight that students have continued to grow and achieve great success from their GCSE qualifications.

Students will start University courses in subjects ranging from Accounting, Aerospace Engineering, Cyber Security, Economics, and   Nursing to Physiotherapy, Law and everything in between.

Emily Brokenshire and Kelly Armstrong will study Medicine at Newcastle University and Queen Mary University London.

Hele’s students have also secured a plethora of exciting and competitive Higher Level Apprenticeships, such as Olivia Heath who achieved 4 A Level grades at A*, A,  A, B, who has started as a Paralegal Apprentice at Womble Bond Dickinson.

Exceptional performances from individuals include:

Joe Hannon A* A* A* A

Elliot O’ Connor A* A* A*

Millie Rowsell A* A* A*

Jack Stone A* A* A

Caitlin Taylor A* A* A*

Reggie West A* A* A*

Olivia Heath A* A A B

Amy Best A* A A

Ethan Andrews A* A A

Morgan Ellicott A A A

William Dunford A* A B

Sam Partridge A*A B

Corey Pearce A* A B

Principal Mason, speaking on behalf of the whole  school community, concluded, “At Hele’s School, we are always hugely proud of our students’ achievements but there is definitely an additional element of pride this year as we bid a very fond farewell to the cohort graduating today. Not only have our young people achieved highly but they have made a lasting contribution to the school community. Young people have seen their character, persistence and resilience tested to the max over the past 18 months due to the pandemic, and they will have learnt a great deal about themselves, as well as the subjects they have studied.  They have demonstrated that they haven’t simply coped or survived their Post 16 education under the most turbulent of conditions, but they have absolutely thrived, with a significant number of our students heading to university having achieved their first-choice place, whilst others will take up first-rate apprenticeships or job opportunities.   We are genuinely excited about what the future holds for these youngsters and we wish them all the very best for their future ventures.”