As teenagers celebrate the end of the first summer exams for three years a Welsh head teacher has sent a lovely message to his pupils and staff. John Kendall, head teacher of Risca Community Comprehensive, praised pupils for their resilience.
He thanked staff parents and carers for their support during the disruption of the pandemic. Schools across Wales have reported this academic year has been the most disrupted since Covid began.
Tens of thousands of pupils and staff were sent to work from home again in the first few months and after Christmas with new waves of Covid. Children in some areas were without specialist subject teachers for weeks and it wasn't certain that exams would run when they returned to school in September.
Read more: Pupils are asking schools if they can take exams 'next week' because they don't want to do them
This year's cohorts have also come to summer sat exams after two years of pandemic closures and disruption and some have been bereaved or ill themselves through the pandemic. Some have complained exams could not be fair again amid rows over changes to the specifications and how they'll be graded.
Saying goodbye to GCSE pupils as they move on from his school, which is run by Caerphilly Council, Mr Kendall sent them this message: "The GCSE exams are over! I'd like to thank the staff who have worked so hard to support these students through the challenging years of secondary education, you've been amazing.
"I'd like to thank the parents and carers who have been so supportive of their children and the school during these disrupted years. But most of all I'd like to thank the pupils themselves, who have been amazing.
"Their resilience and commitment has been superb and I am sure this will be duly rewarded when the results come out. They can now relax and look forward to their prom next week."
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