03 Sep CHESSINGTON SCHOOL CELEBRATES EXAM RESULTS IN THE WAKE OF CORONAVIRUS

Chessington School students celebrated their “above the national average” GCSE and BTEC results after the tumultuous time of COVID-19 and policy changes.

Headteacher Ash Ali said: “Well done to the class of 2020! After what has been a very strange year we are pleased to announce that Chessington School has achieved an excellent set of GCSE and BTEC results.

“This year 11 group were going to perform very well and we have known that long before we heard of COVID-19. Our predictions in January highlighted that they would perform very well, above the national average and they have done as well as we hoped.

“Government policies, exam board changes and U-turns should not in any way tarnish or take away the success of our wonderful young people. They have worked tirelessly since they started way back in 2015 and today has been the day of joy they so richly deserved.

“While a number of individual performances have been exceptional, with students attaining the very highest grades, what always gives me the biggest smile is the consistent progress that our students make irrespective of their ability or starting point. This broad progress from all of our students of all backgrounds demonstrates that we are a truly inclusive school that embraces our ‘Every Child Every Day’ ethos.

“The efforts of our young people have been recognised in these results. I want to recognise the efforts of their parents and of course our teachers. Both have worked with these young people for years and supported their educational development; not least over the last six months. Thank you to the parents.

“Thank you to our teachers not just for their hard work but also for their dedication and accuracy in getting to these results; we know that these results are a true reflection of our young people’s efforts and have been achieved with integrity.

“I started Chessington on the same day as the class of 2020, I knew from day one what they could achieve and I am so proud to see that they have achieved their potential.”