Congratulations everyone  

Well done to all who took A-levels this year and to all those who taught and supported those students. Following years of disruption to their education and examination changes due to the pandemic, it was back to normal this year with full public examinations.

Whilst 2022-23 was a fairly straightforward academic year, those students are still dealing with the impact that Covid-19 lockdowns, bubbles, restrictions, and general anxiety caused during their schooling. This year's A-level students did not sit their GCSEs in the usual manner and are likely to have been less prepared for the full A-level exams, despite all the preparations and mock exams that teachers and schools have provided.

So, whether you studied history or not, whether you did brilliantly or are now a bit doubtful of what to do next – we want to extend a big well done. We know that you must have resilience and dedication to still be studying at this level – and that means a lot in life.

As historians we can provide you with insights from our knowledge of the past that include the following advice: even though each step you take in life does have consequences, each step also provides lots of opportunities even if you can’t immediately see them. Knowing about history can help you realise at every turn there are other turns ahead to take advantage of.

Exams are an important turn but not the only chance to reach your next stage. So, whatever is written on that exam results slip this time, we hope it makes you happy and if it doesn’t, well go ahead and make another turn until you are happy – because you have already achieved so much getting this far. Congratulations to the A-level cohort of 2023!

Oh and if you are going to study history, or have an interest in it in any way in the future – we can definitely help you with that!