Secondary schools across Andover are joining forces this year to celebrate the achievements of the class of 2020. The collaborative approach has been designed to recognise students’ success beyond just their academic results. The emphasis this year on GCSE results day will be to put other qualities and attributes in the spotlight such as personal responsibility, resilience and strength of character.

With the government cancelling the summer series of GCSE exams, Andover’s Year 11 students did not have the opportunity to independently determine their own academic outcomes. This year Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) asked schools to use their professional experience to make a fair and objective judgement of the grade they believe students would have achieved had they sat their exams. These judgements (called Centre Assesses Grades) were based on a full range of evidence including work done in class, non-exam assessments, course work and homework. To ensure the grades are fair between schools, the exam boards used a standardisation model developed with Ofqual.

Following the government U-turn on Monday students will received their Centre Assessed Grade unless the government’s computer algorithm gave a higher grade.

Determined to ensure today was a celebration across the town John Hanson Community School headteacher Russell Stevens said: “I am incredibly proud of each and every one of our Year 11 students; it has been a difficult few months for them.

"They have been denied the opportunity to show the quality of their educational experience, by actually sitting their final examinations.

"Just as importantly, they did not experience the celebratory ‘rites of passage’ that Year 11 students would in a ‘normal’ year – Leavers’ assembly and prom being the 2 stand out events, but also just getting to say goodbye.

"Therefore the opportunity to join us in school today to collect their results, is more important than ever. I wish them every success for the next stage of their educational journey, and I look forward to them returning in more normal times to tell me about their ongoing successes.”

Here is how the students of John Hanson fared:

Josie Ruan

Andover Advertiser:

Made the most progress of all students within the year group as well as achieving 5 grade 9s, 1 grade 8 and 5 grade 7s. Going to Peter Symonds to study A levels in Maths, Economics and Geography. Said: “Don’t be limited by your target grades. Mine where all 5s and 6s, but I achieve 7+ in every subject. ”

Rosie Mundy

Andover Advertiser:

Highest performing student in the year group – achieved 7 grade 9s, 2 8s and a 7.

Going to Peter Symonds to study A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and French. Said: “I am incredibly proud of by results and everything I have achieved.”

Adelle Gurr

Andover Advertiser:

Achieved 4 grade 9s, 4 grade 8s and a grade 7. Going to Andover College to study A levels in Graphic Design, Maths and Computer Science. Said: “I am optimistic about my future.”

Jack Strange

Andover Advertiser:

Achieved a grade 9, 5 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s. Going to Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School to study A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Said: “Proud to be the highest achieving boy in the year group.”

Archie Bragg

Andover Advertiser:

Achieved 4 grade 7s, 3 grade 6s and 2 grade 5s. Going to BCOT to study Engineering. Said: “I have not always found school easy, but I am proud of what I have achieved”