Malawi’s Saint Andrews top students win international awards

A group of students from St Andrew’s International High School (Saints) who competed against thousands of others from around the globe to emerge among the world’s top achievers in their Pearson Edexcel and BTEC qualifications have earned international recognition for their academic achievements.

The Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards recognise outstanding learners as those who have achieved A or A+ equivalent grades in their qualification and where they are the top performing student in that particular examination globally, regionally or in their country.

The ceremony which was recently held at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in Lusaka, also saw top performing students from University of Zambia – School of Natural Sciences, David Daunda Technical High School and Chengelo School being issued with awards:

Saint Andrews International High School achieved 10 awards for the Highest Mark in Africa for Edexcel examinations, as well as 6 BTEC Outstanding Learner Awards for students who achieved Distinction for every unit of their qualification.

Two Saints learners were issued with two awards each, namely; Alden Zachary Boby – Highest Mark in Africa for Edexcel GCSE Information & Communication Technology and Edexcel GCSE Design & Technology: Resistant Materials Technology and Connor Murphy – Outstanding Learner Award for BTEC Level 3 National Subsidiary Diploma in Travel and Tourism and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business

Peter Stubbs, Head of Year 12 and BTEC Quality Manager at Saint Andrews, attended the event in Zambia to accept the awards of behalf of the students who were unable to travel due to examinations. The students’ acceptance speeches were shown via video at the event, with learners describing what the awards meant to them and how their Pearson qualifications have given them the skills necessary for future success in both university and the world of work.

“We are proud to provide Pearson qualifications,” Stubbs said. “Their unique breadth and depth allow our learners to access higher education throughout southern and wider Africa, Europe and the UK as well as many other destinations throughout the world.”

BTECs are vocational qualifications which are equivalent to the traditional UK academic GCSE and A Level qualifications and enable learners to combine academic and practical styles of learning, or opt for a fully vocational route and still progress to top universities around the world. BTECs are the gold standard of vocational qualifications, development in consultation with both industry and universities.

“A clear example of a meaningful and skills-based partnership that the Saints’ BTEC in Business students have been involved with is their recent work with a charity in Malawi. The students were able to raise enough money to buy a remote village a much needed ambulance.

“This is taking education to a whole new level,” Stubbs said. “It not only provides a vital role in our community but also allows learners to achieve aspects of their qualification too.”

In her remarks, Southern Africa Regional Development Manager for Pearson’s international qualifications Christine Hayes said the awards were introduced to recognise fantastic achievements of both students and learners.

“As the UK’s largest awarding body, offering both academic and vocational internationally recognised qualifications, we are proud to be presenting the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards in Southern Africa for the first time and recognising the fantastic achievements of both students and teachers at our partner schools like Saint Andrews,” said Hayes.

She added: “At the core of everything we do is the desire to make a measurable impact on improving people’s lives through learning. We intend to make the awards an annual event in the region to celebrate the achievements of students who excel in Pearson qualifications,” she said.