End of Week Message from Liz

14 August 2026

Hi everyone,

As we’re in the midst of exam results season, I wanted to use this Friday’s end-of-week message to recognise the range of staff that help support children along their educational journey.

A Level results were released yesterday, with pupils in the Vale of Glamorgan again performing well.

Nearly 35 per cent of entrants achieved either an A or A* A Level grade, with 81.8 per cent gaining an A* to C grades and 98.6 per cent A* to E.

It was a similar story in A/S level examinations where 29.1 per cent of papers were graded A, 70.4 per cent A to C and 93.5 per cent A to E.

Next Thursday it will be the turn of GCSE students and I’m very confident we will also see another set of positive results then.

Those students celebrating deserve immense credit for the work they have put in to achieve success.

But they have not done it alone. Parents, teachers and wider school staff play a vital role in supporting pupils along the way, helping give them the best platform for success.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all involved for those efforts and the profound impact you continue to have on the lives of our young people.

Unfortunately, not everyone gets what they hope for on results days, so a range of Council staff also go above and beyond to assist in these situations, signposting people to advice and support.

Youth Service staff will be attending all secondary schools that have in-person events for GCSE results day next week.

There they will be helping young people celebrate and for those without a destination in mind, discussing the options that are available to them.

This work also helps with data capture work, creating a picture of where our students go post-16, so we can better understand trends and improve the service for future year groups.

There are also plans to host a post-16 rave in 2027 to help pupils unwind after what can be a very stressful time.

But the Youth Service’s exam support does not start on exam day, across the summer the team have been holding Work Ready Wednesdays at the YMCA Hub in Barry.

This helps prepare students for the transition from school to work and the many changes that brings.

There have also been a range of accredited training and informal education opportunities on offer, such as Barista classes, giving young people new skills to boost their employment opportunities.

As well as a professional interest, I know many members of staff are parents who will be personally invested in how their children perform in their A Levels and GCSEs.

Exam results day can be an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming – especially if things don't go quite as planned.

It is important to remember that one set of results does not define a person’s future. There are many different routes to success, and the right next step will look different for everyone. 

On Friday 21 August, The Pod at Golau Caredig in Barry is hosting Discover Your Next Step, a free drop-in event for young people looking for advice and support after receiving their exam results.

Taking place between 11am and 3pm, it will bring together a range of organisations offering guidance on further education, employment, training and other opportunities.

Whether exam results have opened up the path they expected or prompted them to explore new opportunities, friendly experts will be available to provide guidance and support.

If you know a young person who may benefit, please do encourage them to drop in and discover their next step or contact the Celt+ team for more information.

Of course, it is not just at GCSE and A Level that our schools are performing well and giving our students a solid foundation for future achievement.

Recently, a flurry of schools have received excellent inspection reports from Estyn, underlining that quality education is being offered throughout the Vale.

In the last few months, All Saints, Cadoxton, Llansannor, Barry Island, High Street and Cogan primary schools have all been praised by assessors, along with Cowbridge School, Ysgol Bro Morgannwg and the Welsh immersion unit.

Well done to all concerned on those outcomes.

Finally, a thank you to all staff for your efforts this week.

I and the rest of the Strategic Leadership Team really appreciate your dedication and commitment.

For those not in work, enjoy a relaxing weekend.

Best wishes,

Liz