Where do you start dissecting the educational events over the last week or two?

Whether you log on in the early morning to check on university places or open that envelope in a school hall, the results season always produces a gamut of emotions.

The much-criticised national algorithm saw A-levels students up and down the country last week experience fear and despair when it should have been a day of joy for so many.

Many universities, thankfully, showed common sense to ensure many students got the place their hard work, resilience and commitment deserved.

But not all. We remained concerned for the students seeing originally downgraded results and losing their coveted university place.

Minds quickly turned to GCSE results day and the possible problems facing even younger students.

A week ago, we all feared the worst. On Monday afternoon, the Government decided to scrap their algorithm and award students, both GCSE and A-levels, their Centre Assessed Grades.

In a week where students and staff have understandably been up in arms, it was the only decision they could make.

By the time many of you read this, GCSE students will have picked up their results to end what has been a tumultuous results season, to say the least.

Students deserve a lot of praise throughout this period. Their resilience, determination and commitment will stand them in good stead as they move onto their next chapter.

But I would also like to praise all our school staff who have shown admirably professionalism since the lockdown in March.

Our schools stayed open throughout this period, even in holidays and on bank holidays, as our staff juggled an unprecedented home schooling programme with more and more children coming back to school buildings.

They then had to quickly revert to forward planning as we prepare to welcome back all students into our schools in September.

Everything from one-way systems to staggered drop-off times, year group bubbles to social distancing in the classroom had to be carefully and rigorously planned.

On top of this for our secondary schools and sixth form centres, they had to painstakingly go through every GCSE and A-level student and award them the grade they felt was best deserved.

This process was then repeated by relevant heads of year, senior leadership teams and headteachers before a final Centre Assessed Grade was decided upon.

Just like students, our staff went through every emotion before, during and after A-level Results Day before the Government’s decision this week.

The now have to quickly turn their attention to a new school year starting in September – despite all the distractions of the past week, they are ready for all children to return to their studies, in person, full-time .They truly have been a credit to their profession.