A-Level Results Day 2024: Downham Market Academy’s Athena Sixth Form College students celebrate best results ever

Students and staff at Downham Academy’s Athena Sixth Form College are celebrating some excellent A-Level results which have quickly become their best ever.

Teachers said students have enjoyed “being known as individuals by their expert A-level teachers” - and the staff are very proud of all their achievements this year.

Mark Eastwood, the school’s head teacher, said: “We are really proud of all the students - their hard work over the last two years has really paid off.

“It is usually quite a nervous time, but yesterday when we came to download the results we were not nervous because we knew they worked really hard and they would get what they deserved.”

Among the students receiving their results this morning was Lydia Callaby, whose grades included an A* in both Maths and Further Maths and a B in Drama.

She said: “I am over the moon with my results. I was not particularly expecting that - I just cannot believe it.

“It has been a long seven years here, but my teachers and all the staff have always supported me and I have had so many decision changes. Everyone was super accommodating to that.”

Lydia will move on to study Maths at Loughborough University.

Meanwhile, Rameen Ishan “has worked incredibly hard” to achieve an A* in Maths and further A grades in Physics and Further Maths.

He said: “I am very happy with my results. I am over the moon about them, I was nervous before coming in even though I was confident. It is just always nervous picking up results.”

Rameen will be going on to study Mechanical Engineering at Warwick University.

By achieving three straight As in Maths, Chemistry, and Biology, Toby Melia has secured a place to complete a Masters degree in Chemistry at the University of Lincoln.

He said: “I am pleased with my results. I am happy with how I did - it was better than I thought I did.”

Hattie Cross chose to study at Athena after coming from a different secondary school “due to the small class sizes and expert A-Level staff”.

Having “settled quickly and worked hard”, she achieved an A* in Criminology and A grades in Biology and Psychology.

Hattie said: “I am feeling great as now I can go to the right university. I was expecting high grades but not As.”

She will now go on to study Criminology at the University of Kent Canterbury.

Also making officials at the sixth form proud is Emily, who chose to remain at Athena having studied at Downham Academy due to the positive relationships she enjoyed with her teachers.

This, along with expert guidance and support, has allowed her to secure a double Distinction* in Health and Social Care and an A grade in Art. She will now go to the University of Suffolk to study Mental Health Nursing.

Bella, who loves politics, has been at the forefront of all the political discussion among the cohort - even enjoying a question-and-answer session with Liz Truss as part of her experience at Athena.

She scored an A grade in Politics, alongside an additional A grade and a further grade B, and will go on to study Politics at the University of Nottingham.

George Pettitt, deputy head teacher at Downham Academy, said: “I am so proud of the students at Athena. All the hard work has paid off and they have blown us away with results that set them up for life.

“They have shown our community that if you work hard, aspire to be the best you can and dream big, you can follow your chosen career paths.

“I’m sure they will inspire many students in Downham Academy to go on and have bright and rewarding futures.”

Athena launched its Extended Diploma in Sport in 2022 and has posted the first-ever set of results from this new course.

Reece scored the highest results possible, achieving three Distinction* grades, and had the chance to train with Norwich City FC coaches as part of his experience.

He also visited many top sporting venues, including Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park, as part of the course.

Mr Eastwood added: “I could not be more proud of the wonderful young adults that are about to embark on the next exciting adventure in their lives.”

Teachers said the students in the cohort have made excellent progress and that they enjoy personalised support, allowing them to progress from whatever their starting points were and to go on to attain excellent results.