Executive Principal John Waszek has offered advice for Rydal Penrhos’ examination candidates ahead of recent announcements issued by the Government.

In the wake of Education Minister Kirsty Williams stating it was “impossible to guarantee a level playing field for exams” due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Waszek has assured Rydal Penrhos parents and staff that the school is doing everything they can to ensure goals are met.

Rydal Penrhos uses both Welsh and English examination boards, which currently have different criteria regarding examination status in 2021, but the school remains completely dedicated to putting each pupil sitting exams in the best possible position for them to succeed and continue the school’s rich history of exceptional examination results at both A Level and GCSE.

Mr Waszek, said: “Whilst this uncertainly is unhelpful and can provoke understandable anxiety, we are absolutely committed to teach and to operate in ways that reassure our pupils and which also place them in the best possible position to achieve the highest grades.”

The school continues to lead the way regarding a clear and concise structure regarding an ever-changing situation surrounding COVID-19. Rydal Penrhos pupils were given free iPads to assist with their learning not only in and out of the classroom, but also in the event of further lockdown measures in the coming months.

Preventing learning loss has been at the forefront of plans during an unprecedented period of disruption. Rydal Penrhos’ dedicated staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure pupils were given a full day of online lessons during the recent ‘fire-break’ lockdown to ensure no pupil missed out during a vital stage of their education.

Mr Waszek, who has overseen some incredibly positive changes across Rydal Penrhos during his tenure, has called for hard work and dedication from pupils, parents and staff alike to ensure candidates in 2021 maintain and even enhance their chances of an “advantageous outcome” despite the current climate.

“Consequently, our advice is quite straightforward; pupils and teachers must assume that each and every piece of work will contribute to the final A Level, AS or GCSE grade,” he added.

“There can be no work submitted which is anything less than the very best that a pupil can produce. Pupils now have to put in the “hard miles’, confident that a diligent and conscientious approach will have the most advantageous outcome, regardless of the actual ways in which the various Awarding Bodies will allocate grades.

“I make no apology for expecting nothing but hard work and more hard work and, with the support of families and the high professional standards of our teachers, this will place our pupils in the most advantageous position to achieve the best grades.

“We shall continue to keep pupils and parents updated as the proposed arrangements are announced. In 2020 our pupils received the highest ‘value-added’ ever achieved by Rydal Penrhos pupils at both A Level and GCSE, this in turn enabling pupils to secure respectively the university places they wanted or to embark upon Sixth Form courses. We have the same ambitions for our current cohorts of examination candidates.”

____________________________________________

Rydal Penrhos is now able to offer private tours to prospective pupils and their families.

For more information email admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or book online at https://rydal.wpengine.com/open-days-visits.