STUDENTS at The King Alfred School Academy in Highbridge have been celebrating their fantastic A level and BTEC results.

The year 13 cohort collected their results on Thursday, August 18 from the academy, which is part of The Priory Learning Trust.

They are now planning their next steps, which will see many embark on university adventures or start their careers as apprentices. 

Students sat formal exams for the first time since 2019 because of the impact of the pandemic on education. 

Principal Dan Milford said: “Our TKASA year 13 students have been amazing over the past two years in incredibly challenging and difficult circumstances. 

“The work ethic, resilience and courage they have shown has been inspiring and it was great to see them in school today collecting their results and now preparing for the next steps of their lives. 

“We are incredibly proud of them all.”Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: Jamie with academy principal Dan Milford.Jamie with academy principal Dan Milford.

The academy's top performer was Jamie Raynard, who achieved two A* grades and two As. 

Jamie, a former Weston-super-Mare student at the Priory Community School Academy, joined the King Alfred sixth form at the end of year 11.

He is now set to study physics at Warwick University. 

Other students to excel were Evie Skinner (A*, A, distinction*), Grace Huggins (A*, A, A), Anya Snowball (A*, A, A), and Erin Murray (A, A, distinction*).

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: “The work ethic, resilience and courage they have shown has been inspiring.”“The work ethic, resilience and courage they have shown has been inspiring.”

Erin will now study clinical psychology at Plymouth University.

She said: “Doing psychology at King Alfred’s really ignited and catalysed me to do psychology further. I loved it so much.”

Anya said she was “very pleased” with her results, which will enable her to study English and film studies at the University of Sussex.

Grace will study at King's College London when the new academic year begins. 

Across the country, A-level grades were down from pandemic highs, when pupils were assessed by their teachers, but were above 2019 levels. 

University admissions have also fallen on last year but are the second highest on record, according to Ucas figures.