DELIGHTED students were reunited at Barrow Sixth Form College to celebrate their A Level achievements in an unprecedented year for education.

Students said they have faced an anxious wait to get their results after the coronavirus pandemic meant no exams were sat.

The sixthformers returned to the Rating Lane campus for results day to discover their grades as they head for university, higher apprenticeships and employment.

Around 200 students will now leave the college.

Many students noted the ‘weird’ system of receiving grades without having sat exams.

Some said they would have relished the chance to be tested, while others were relieved they did not have to face the exam hall.

Head of Sixth Form Helen Gibson said: “Our students worked so hard to prepare for their exams and were all ready to sit them when we went into the unprecedented situation of lockdown.

“They are the first, and hopefully only, students in history who will be getting their grades during a global pandemic and we know that the resilience and commitment they have shown in the circumstances means they will be able to achieve anything in future.

Twins Cameron and Jason Pollock, 17, were among those celebrating.

Cameron, the college’s top achiever, swept the board with A*s in maths, further maths and physics and will go to Loughborough University to study a degree in automotive engineering with a goal of working in Formula One.

Jason achieved AAC in geography, chemistry and maths and secured a place to study geology at the University of Aberdeen.

Cameron said: “It’s all I needed to get into the university I wanted to. They’re higher than I expected.

He said he felt ‘relief’ when he opened the results envelope.

Jason will study geology and hopes to indulge his interest in volcanology, the study of volcanoes.

“I can’t complain.” he said. “I was pretty happy when I saw my grades.

“We’ll be celebrating. I’m very happy for Cameron.”

Owen Wilson was over the moon with A*s in maths and further maths and an A in physics.

The former Furness Academy pupil will now study maths at Manchester University.

“I’m very happy to get what I needed, I’d not really thought about things as we have been off so long. The tutors were all brilliant, I cannot fault them."

Brandon Yung and Rio-Osayomwanbo Corkill were also among the high achievers.

Brandon achieved A*ABB in maths, physics, design and technology and further maths and has his dream apprenticeship in nuclear engineering at BAE Systems.

Professional rugby player Rio-Osayomwanbo Corkill, of St Helen’s, who got the highest grade of distinction* in CTEC Business, said: “I knew I’d done everything I could and tried my hardest."