Terrific destinations await students
Highly sought after apprenticeships and places at top universities were among the destinations secured by Toll Bar Sixth Form students after receiving their A-level results today.
Smiling faces after finding out their results.
Successful students and their families celebrated with staff at Waltham Toll Bar Academy.
Executive Principal Philip Dickinson congratulated the cohort.
“Students have achieved some fantastic results and we’re delighted the hard work from both students and staff has paid off,” he said.
“Success has seen some securing places in higher education, including prestigious Russell Group universities, while results for others have opened pathways into excellent employment opportunities, including some terrific apprenticeships.
“We hope our students have enjoyed their time in our special sixth form community and wish them all the very best in their future careers.”
Happy scenes after opening the dreaded envelope.
Head of Sixth Form Christina Hook said the staff team were “exceptionally proud” of students’ achievements.
“This cohort of students have worked incredibly hard and are going on to a fantastic range of destinations,” she said.
“They are also the first group of Toll Bar Sixth Form students to have benefited from our ongoing partnership with the Elephant Group, an organisation aimed at supporting students to access top-third universities, which many have achieved.
“Whilst university remains the first-choice destination for most of our students, we are also seeing more students choosing high-quality apprenticeships and employment opportunities, both in the local area and beyond.
“This year, we have students moving on to exciting apprenticeships at Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants, with its head office in Grimsby, and global organisations Siemens and Nestle.”
"For us, it is all about ensuring each student is able to move on to the destination that is right for them, and we are particularly pleased with the wide range of future opportunities that our Year 13 leavers have accessed.
"We are also delighted to have a total of 14 courses that achieved a 100% pass rate, and to see the first sets of results for two new courses recently introduced to enhance the sixth form's existing offer - Dance and Criminology.
“Both courses achieved outstanding results, with 50% of students on each course achieving A- A* grades."
Emma Tiplady and proud parents Andrew and Rachel after collecting her outstanding results from Toll Bar Sixth Form.
Emma Tiplady secured her place to read Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield with an A* in Biology and As in Maths and Chemistry.
She attended Humberston Academy before switching to the sixth form.
“It was a small school and this is a small sixth form. It felt like the right move and so it has proved. I’ve had such good teachers,” she said.
“I can’t wait to go to Sheffield. It’s a lovely city where I feel really comfortable.”
She will follow in the footsteps of father Andrew, who also studied at the university.
He said: “It is amazing what she’s achieved but she’s worked really hard and it is nothing more than she deserves.”
Mum Rachel said: “We knew the decision to go from Humberston to Toll Bar Sixth Form was the right decision for her. We are very proud.”
A career in chartered accountancy beckons for Max Chapman.
Max Chapman will follow a different route having already started a six-year apprenticeship to become a chartered accountant with Forrester Boyd.
He was happy with his three Bs.
“My base office is going to be Louth where I will be part of the agricultural team,” he said.
“They have made me feel welcome.
“It’s been a really good experience at sixth form and I’d recommend it to anyone.”
Elsie-Mae receives an emotional hug from dad David after securing her place to study Theology.
Elsie-Mae Naylor was one of those picking up excellent Criminology results. Along with that A, she achieved Bs in History and Religious Education and has secured a place at the London School of Theology.
“I can’t stop shaking,” she said. “I’m really happy. I’ve been at Toll Bar since Year 7 and loved my time here. The staff have been the best.”
Father David Williamson said: “She’s worked really hard and I’m glad to see she got what she deserved.”
Film and broadcast will be studied by Sam Hayles, being congratulated here by parents Donna and Paul.
Sam Hayles was delighted with his ABB in Geography, History and Media respectively. The pressure was off a little because he had an unconditional offer to study Film and Broadcast Production at Edge Hill University in Liverpool.
“I’m absolutely buzzing and could not be happier,” he said.
“I have loved sixth form. The staff encouraged me to do what I’ve always wanted. I also had the opportunity for work experience in media and that gave me a very good insight.”
Mum Donna Holmes said: “We could not have wished for more from the school in the way it has supported Sam. The staff have been fantastic.”
Dad Paul Hayles said the experience of picking up the results had been more emotional than he had expected.
“I think it’s just knowing he’s got what he wanted. He’s worked hard and now he’s all set up for university,” he said.
Liverpool-bound Grace Wood, who will study Law.
Another achieving her first choice destination was Grace Wood, securing a place to study Law at the University of Liverpool after picking up AAB in PE, Business and History respectively.
“I’m happy with my results,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time in the sixth form. The teachers have been helpful and I’ve been able to build up a good relationship with them because the class sizes made it easier to do focused work.
“Now I’m excited to meet new people and have a new experience.”
Former Louth student Heidi Young discovers her successful results.
Heidi Young achieved As in Business and RE and a B in History.
“I’m happy as the results reflect the work I put in,” she said.
The former student of Louth’s King Edward VI Grammar School will study International Relations and Politics at the University of Sheffield, her first choice destination.
“I’ve loved it here,” she said. “I’ve made new best friends. It was closer to home and I felt the resources were more modern with specialised staff.”
One of those successful in the sixth form’s first A-level Dance course was Neve Lammin, who has accepted a place at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Her A in the subject plus results in Art and Design and English Language ensured her place.
“I needed two Cs so I’m just so happy,” she said.
“Dance was such an interesting course and also really fun.”
She has been dancing since the age of three and attends Happy Feet Dance School in Grimsby.
Alex Smith (left) and Charlie Nickells, who have both secured degree apprenticeships.
Alex Smith and Charlie Nickells secured degree apprenticeships at Morrisons and KPMG respectively.
Charlie, a former student at Caistor Grammar, said: “I’m going to be based at the Leeds office and it’s a five-year course.
“I live locally and had heard good things about the sixth form before I came.
“I’ve enjoyed it and everyone has been really friendly and made me feel welcome.”
Alex’s three-year degree apprenticeship is in manufacturing and he will be based at Morrisons’ fish factory on Grimsby’s Europarc and study at the University of Bradford.
“I’ve enjoyed the environment here and small classes which has helped me focus,” the former Humberston Academy student said.
Toll Bar Sixth Form is part of Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust and its Chief Executive Officer Martin Brown congratulated students and families in person.
“Well done to all who have achieved successful outcomes,” he said. “We’re incredibly proud of our sixth form and its offer to Year 11s across North East Lincolnshire and northern Lincolnshire.”
LGAT’s Chair of the Board of Trustees Philip Bond also passed on his congratulations.
“Students and their families can be proud of what they have achieved,” he said. “I’d also like to thank the specialist staff who teach A-levels and enable students to achieve such high standards.”
Dancer Neve Lammin whose results mean she will study at Italia Conti.
Co-Director of Arts and Head of Drama Gemma Carter with successful Dance students (left to right) Neve Lammin, Aniesha Chidwick and Primrose Archer.
Year 11s from any of the area’s schools who wish to join Toll Bar Sixth Form next month can do so at www.tollbarmatsixthform.co.uk/enrolmentform/
Any queries about applying or any questions about further study in general can be directed to the Sixth Form Team via (01472) 500505.