OLD PERSEANS
School News
SARAH WADDINGTON retires Staff, pupils and parents at The Pelican came together in July to wish Head Sarah Waddington
EXAM RESULTS 2020
all the best for her retirement after a decade of outstanding and inspirational leadership. The
The cancellation of public exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic
new Head, Francesca Heftman, took over in
means that 2020 I/GCSE,
September 2020.
A Level and Pre-U results were calculated using the higher of centre-assessed (teacher) grades or the exam board standardised grades. At A Level, 144 (83%) of Perse students achieved three or more grades at A or A* (or Pre U equivalent) and 75 Perse students obtained 3 or more A* grades (or Pre U equivalent). At GCSE, 87% of Perse entries were graded 9 or 8, which is broadly equivalent to the former GCSE A* grade. The 9–7 rate (broadly equivalent to A*A) was 97%, while 67% of entries were graded at 9. Congratulations to all students who have worked hard over many months in extremely trying circumstances. Final 2020 A Level and Pre U grades will not be known until January 2021, as students who are not satisfied with their exam board standardised grades were able to appeal and/or sit public exams this autumn.
BRITISH INDOOR ROWING records
COVID-19 TESTING at The Perse To reduce any further disruption to
broken by Perse student
Ed Gaskarth (Lower Sixth) has rowed his way to record-breaking brilliance – without taking to
teaching and learning at The Perse, we have acquired a Samba II testing machine, enabling us to test pupils and staff with Covid-19 symptoms. Pupils
the water. In April, he
and staff who test negative for Covid-19
clinched the British
symptoms are able to quickly return to
indoor rowing record
school, assuming they are well and no
for distance covered
one in their household has symptoms.
in 30 minutes in the men’s heavyweight (above 75kg) 17–18 age category. Using a machine with slides, in which the movement is more akin to regular
FUNDRAISING FOR Jamie's Wood
In October we held a non-uniform day to raise money for
rowing, Ed chalked up 8,257
Jamie's Wood – a
metres while competing in the virtual Concept 2 Spring VIII
rewilding project on
Series. Not content with setting one standard, Ed has since
the Glenlude Estate
added three more national records to his tally, including 1,290
on the Scottish
metres for distance covered in four minutes, rowing 10,000
borders planted
metres in 35min 25.6sec and 2,000 metres in 6min 20.2sec.
in memory of Jamie Gardiner (2013).
Ed, who rows for the Cambridge ’99 club, said: “I’ve used
Will Aitchison and other members of
trying to break the records more as motivation and goal-
the Class of 2013 put together a video
setting without the racing season rather than as a replacement
assembly about Jamie for pupils to
or consolation for not being able to go on the river. However,
watch, and the day raised £2,046.77. You
it is nice to be able to feel like I have pushed myself as
can find out more about the project, or
much as possible on a piece and records are a bonus.”
make a donation, at jamieswood.carrd.co. 4
