Exam success for Tring students

This week will see Tring's GCSE students collect those all-important results, but last week the spotlight was on the A level results. Tring People met up with Tring school students Tom Payne, Jack Rigby, Grace Witherden and Kabol Ma to find out what the future has in store.

All four students are heading off to university next month, with Tom Payne heading to the University of Bedfordshire to study travel and tourism. Tom received a letter from his chosen university on results morning confirming he had a place, which he is thrilled about. Jack Rigby also studied drama and will be continuing with a degree in English and drama at Royal Holloway. He received A levels in English, drama and biology and had a nervous wait for these results while the UCAS website had technical issues.  Grace Witherden also had an anxious wait thanks to these technical problems. She knew she hadn't got in to her first choice university of Surrey but had no idea what grades she had achieved until UCAS had sorted its website out. She is delighted to have a place at her second choice, Brunel, studying English, following her results in English literature, law and biology. Kabol Ma is studying illustration and animation at Coventry University following her great A level results in art, biology and English, and is keen for university to show her all the possible career options for someone with skills in illustration.

The students all react with understandable annoyance to the idea that A levels are getting easier. "People think that drama is an easy option," says Jack. "But it's really intensive with lots of hours of rehearsals." He adds that most people don't realise there's a 2.5 hour written exam as part of the drama course. Kabol adds that the stress of exams and the hard work often made her feel like crying.

There is excitement at what lies ahead, but also a little nervousness at heading into the unknown. "It's very safe around here," explains Tom. "I know everybody and know what's going on." Grace adds that making new friends is a little concerning, getting outside of the comfort zone of school mates. But she is looking forward to being independent. "I want to learn how to cook," she says. Jack is ahead of the game here and has been practising student-friendly meals such as risotto, which will no doubt make him popular in the halls of residence.

All four students have chosen universities not too far away from Tring, so it's not too far to come if they feel in need of some TLC from their families.