Results Day at Thetford Academy and Thomas Paine Sixth Form

Students at Thomas Paine Sixth Form at Thetford Academy are celebrating a record-breaking year, with the school’s best ever A-Level results. An impressive 26% of all grades were A*, A, and 78% were A*-C—up from 50% last year.

Michael Fordham, Principal of Thetford Academy and Thomas Paine Sixth Form, said, “This has been an astonishing year. All of our students excelled, and we’ve seen a big increase in those securing places at Russell Group universities, thanks in part to our Gregson Scholars programme, funded by Balliol College, Oxford. Every student gained a place at their first-choice university, studying subjects from aerospace engineering to fine art.”

Sarah Blakey-Stoppard achieved 4 A*s and an A and is heading to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, to study Engineering. “I’m excited to specialise in aerospace engineering later in the course. Further Maths became my favourite subject after the initial challenge!”

Mac Pawlak, who moved from Poland at 11, was thrilled to meet his predicted grades of four As. He’s off to Sheffield to study Electronic Engineering, having earned a prestigious Halo Scholarship, which covers tuition, internships, and guarantees a job after graduation alongside a Government award of £4,000. “My mum cried when I told her, she said our move was worth it.”

Demi Sadler is the first in her family to go to university and will study Paramedical Science at Surrey. “It’s the top uni for my course. You don’t always need A* to succeed.” Demi celebrated with her proud mum and said she was inspired to become a paramedic by the volunteers during her time at cadets.

Twins Taylor and Tyler Mark-Conlon both achieved A*AAA. Taylor is off to Sheffield for Geography, and Tyler to York for Psychology. “It’s time to go our separate ways,” said Taylor. “Our Indonesia expedition and the incredible support from teachers were the highlights. They push you to aim high and truly care.”

There was also a buzz of excitement as students and their families gathered to receive their GCSE results the following week, with many celebrating impressive achievements across a broad range of subjects.

This year, 59% of students secured a grade 4 or above in English and Maths, with 41% achieving grade 5 or higher. Thetford Academy’s highest ever GCSE results.

Principal Michael Fordham said, “When this year group joined us in 2020, we were all wearing masks and unable to do many of the things we’d normally do in school. They rose to every challenge and leave us with a remarkable five-year record. It’s been an especially strong year for maths, and it’s great to see the humanities showing significant improvement too. We look forward to welcoming many of these students into our Sixth Form and are confident that those moving on to college or apprenticeships will continue to thrive.”

Among this year’s top achievers is David Kantorski, who earned twelve GCSEs at grades 8 and 9. He is joining Thomas Paine Sixth Form and aims to study medicine at the University of Cambridge. Darcey Aldborough, Head Girl, celebrated 10 GCSEs and a Distinction 2 in Sport, while Victoria Kuate exceeded her expectations with top marks in triple science and a Distinction 2 in Sport. A keen rugby player for Bury St Edmunds, Victoria is also progressing into the Sixth Form with plans to study a sport-related degree.

This success follows a positive Ofsted inspection earlier this year, which reaffirmed the school’s ‘Good’ rating. Inspectors praised the school’s high standards, inclusive ethos, and commitment to student wellbeing, noting that pupils “feel valued and cared for.”