Cllr Alex Sanderson visited William Morris Sixth Form to celebrate the A-Level success with students
The anxious wait was finally over for local pupils across H&F today as they picked up their A-Level exam results.
Hundreds of students celebrated earning the grades they needed to secure their spot at university.
It was more difficult for pupils to get the top grades this year after Ofqual, the exams watchdog for England, announced it was bringing in tougher grading following the increased number of high grades awarded during the Covid pandemic.
This was also the first time many of these pupils were sitting public exams after their cancellation during Covid.
“We are extremely proud of all our pupils who worked so hard and took their A-Levels this year,” said Cllr Alex Sanderson, H&F Cabinet Member for Children and Education.
“Students in H&F have once again earned top grades which means they can continue their journey to university and follow their aspirations.
“And those who didn’t get the results they needed should not worry. There is a chance to resit exams just as many pupils have done this year after being in a similar position. There are so many education and career opportunities ahead.
“None of the success would be possible without the tireless support of teachers, parents and school staff each year. We are eternally grateful for all their efforts to give our young people the best possible start in life.”
The latest exam results success comes as all schools in H&F are currently rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Watch our A-Level results video on YouTube.
Standout stars
There were some impressive sets of results across the borough including Hammersmith Academy pupil, Safwan Uddin, who received four A* grades. He is now off to King’s College London to read Mathematics.
“Opening these results shocked me,” he said. “This moment reminded me of the many people that helped me in ways that easily go unnoticed such as that extra push that my teachers gave me, and the encouragement that my parents gave me the whole way through.”
Safwan will be joined by fellow Hammersmith Academy student, Sahra Abdi, who received an A* and two A grades, earning a place to study Medicine.
William Morris Sixth Form star, Agueda Coutinho, got an A* in Sociology, A in History and a B in Geography. She will go on to study History at Utrecht University.
Mary Berrisford, Principal at William Morris Sixth Form said: “We have been ecstatic about our exam results today. We've had some really, really pleased students in the building. 115 of our students have achieved their first place at university, and they've been so happy about it. We're just so pleased for all of our students who've done so exceedingly well this year. It's been glorious.”
One of Ark Burlington Danes Academy top performers, Christian Casimir, got three A* grades in Economics, History and Maths and is going to study History, Politics and Economics at University College London.
Fulham Boys School pupil, Toma Kerac, achieved two A* grades and an A, and will study Geography at Oxford University.
Other pupils celebrating their results on the day included a student who signed for a Premier League football club and another who has accepted an apprenticeship place at British Airways.
Read more on how schools in H&F did on A-Level results day
- Ark Burlington Danes Academy
The atmosphere was buzzing as pupils received their impressive exam results at Ark Burlington Danes Academy in Wood Lane.
Yaseen Ahmed is heading to his first choice – Oxford University – to study Medicine.
Having achieved an A* in Maths, A in Biology and B grades in Chemistry and Psychology, he is “really happy with the results”.
“I would like to thank my teachers and everyone here. Their advice and support has really helped me get to where I’m going to be next year,” Yaseen added.
Head Boy, Cameron Juya, received two D* grades and a D in a Level 3 BTEC in IT.
“I wouldn’t have been able to achieve these grades without the amazing support I’ve received throughout my years here,” he explained.
Cameron is excited to be moving on to the same software company as his best friend since nursery, Abdirizak Sheikh, who received a D* and two D grades.
They’ll both be starting a degree apprenticeship partnered with the University of West London.
Abdirizak added: “I am over the moon with my results and can’t get the smile off my face.”
- The Fulham Boys School
Student John Davison received 4 A* grades today The nerves turned to joy as results’ envelopes were opened at the Fulham Boys School in Fulham Road.
Oxford university bound pupil, Toma Kerac, achieved two A* grades and an A as well as an A* in his extended project qualification (EPQ).
Toma, who will be reading Geography, said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge and am extremely grateful to Fulham Boys School and all the staff that have supported me."
Meanwhile, John Davison’s clean sweep of four A* grades has secured him a place reading Mathematics at UCL.
Another future mathematician, Titus Olivier, bagged three A* grades and is taking his talents to Durham University next year.
An impressive 36 per cent of the Fulham Boys pupils got an A grade or higher, and 87 per cent of grades awarded to the hardworking students were A* to C.
One Fulham Boys pupil who picked up his results today has even signed for a Premier League football club.
“We are incredibly proud that our young men have fought hard to achieve and go beyond their potential,” said Headmaster David Smith. “Many have secured places at top universities.”
Fulham Boys students are heading on to some of the best universities around the UK – including Warwick, Edinburgh, Leeds, Cardiff and many more.
- Fulham Cross Academy
Students of Fulham Cross Academy Sixth Form were greeted with a sea of green and pink balloons as they collected their A-level and BTEC results in Kingwood Road, Fulham.
The STEM-specialist school achieved 100 per cent passes in A-Level results across Sport Sciences, Art, Engineering, and Health and Social Care.
“I am very happy because I never thought I would get these results,” said pupil Natalia Franca, 19. “I thought my Health and Social Care results would be really bad, but no - I got a distinction.
“These results show that I worked really hard so now I can realise my dream which is to become a nurse. I’m going to start studying Nursing at Anglia Ruskin University next month.”
Mohammed Al-Maosawi, 18, gained three B grades in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. He will be heading to Southampton University to study Biomedical Sciences.
Mustafa Sheikh, 18, also gained three B grades and will be going to Royal Holloway to study Computer Science.
“We are extremely proud of all of our Year 13 students today,” said Angela Thorpe, Head of Sixth Form.
“We’re really pleased with our BTEC results with a lot of our students reaching their target.
“These students began A-Level courses after significant setbacks in their GCSE studies through the COVID pandemic. They all persevered through and overcame many hurdles to get to where they are today.
“We’ve got about 20 per cent of our students into their first choice university, and we are very proud and excited to see what the class of 2023 will achieve.”
- Hammersmith & Fulham, West London College
Students eagerly received their A-level, BTEC and other vocational qualification results at Hammersmith & Fulham College, part of West London College, in Gliddon Road.
Their outstanding results have opened the doors to university and exciting career opportunities.
Qais Attaallah, 20, and Delina Kidane, 19, each achieved triple D* grades on their Applied Science BTEC – the highest grade possible.
Qais is set to go to Manchester University to study for a degree in Genetics, with plans to complete a Masters and potentially a PhD in Genetics.
While Delina is off to Kingston University to study Biomedical Science.
Student, Iman El Masmoudi Garcia, who got D*DD, thanked her teachers for their amazing support throughout her time at West London College.
“My teacher understood each student individually and helped them to do their best,” said the 19-year-old. “She encouraged me to express my ideas and pushed me to be better.”
Iman will study Accounting and Management at Queen Mary University of London.
Camol Bethel, 28, achieved distinctions across all six units of his Travel and Tourism qualification, bringing him one step closer to fulfilling his dream of working for Border Force.
“I like the idea of serving and protecting in a travel and tourism setting,” he explained.
Many more of the school’s creative minds received distinctions, including:
- Digital Design students Mariam Eish and Sara Dehbouzorgi, both 20, will study Interior Design and Architecture at Middlesex University
- Digital Design student Renata Varga, is planning to kick off her fashion career with a gap year in Italy or South Korea
- Digital Design student Elyana Guler, is set to study a foundation year in Fine Art at the City & Guilds of London Art School in Kennington
- Creative Media Production Technology student Daniel Staszak will progress to Oxford Brookes University to study Digital Media Production.
James Taylor, Deputy Principal at West London College, added: “Level 3 Results Day is a tribute to the dedication of teachers, parents, and support networks in helping our learners to fulfill their potential and pursue their dreams.”
- Hammersmith Academy
From left to right, Safwan Uddin, Eliza Mackay, Ermir Bela, Sahra Abdi, Milan Kleins Hammersmith Academy students celebrated an outstanding set of A-Level results with 72 per cent of the grades awarded marked A* to C.
Securing one of the most competitive university spots in the country – Ana Mackenzie is off to Cambridge University to study a Foundation Year after achieving an A*, A and B.
“During my time at Sixth Form, I received close support from my subject teachers who helped me enjoy the curriculum and love my subjects. I hope to pursue a future in diplomacy with Hammersmith Academy Sixth Form providing me with this great foundation I have today,” said Ana.
Record-breaking grades
Safwan Uddin was the Academy’s highest achiever, receiving four A* grades. He is now off to King’s College London to read Mathematics.
“Opening these results shocked me,” he said. “This moment reminded me of the many people that helped me in ways that easily go unnoticed such as that extra push that my teachers gave me, and the encouragement that my parents gave me the whole way through.”
He will be joined by Sahra Abdi who received an A* and two A grades, earning a place to study Medicine.
Ermir Bela earned two A* grades and two A grades and will go on to study an Architecture degree apprenticeship at BDP.
Milan Kleins also achieved two A* grades and two A grades. He will begin a Computer Science degree at the Queen Mary University of London this autumn.
Also going to the Queen Mary University of London is Kiera Ghouneim who achieved two A* grades and a B and will be reading Psychology.
"I’m ecstatic and over the moon with my results,” she said. “I cannot thank the staff enough for all the support I have received in my two years and I’m looking forward to securing my degree."
Salvatore Sorrentino was awarded three A* grades and will start a Psychology course at the University of Bath.
Eliza Mackay is going to Loughborough University to read Geography after receiving an A*, A and BTEC Distinction*.
“I am so happy and relieved with the results. The support from the teachers has been amazing and Sixth Form has been extremely enjoyable. I’ve made new friends and memories, and thanks to this, I’m able to make many more great memories at university,” she said.
Headteacher Gary Kynaston added: "I am delighted with the A-Level results our students have achieved this year. We are on par with those achieved last year and these results are not a product of chance, but of collaborative hard work and dedication between students, teachers and parents.
“It is fantastic to see such a large proportion of our students achieving their first-choice offers at leading universities and attaining top apprenticeship placements. I am confident they will go on to great things in the next phase of their lives. Congratulations to them and their families.”
- Lady Margaret School
There were smiles all around at Lady Margaret School in Parsons Green, Fulham on A-Levels results day.
Pupils will be starting a number of exciting new courses at university later this year including Dentistry at Kings College London, Architectural Engineering at the University of Leeds, and Criminology at the University of Bath after getting the grades they needed.
One student even accepted an apprenticeship place at British Airways.
Students achieved an impressive set of results, with 20 per cent receiving at least three A or A* grades.
Overall, 80 per cent of the Year 13 class earned A* to B grades while in Physics, Drama, History of Art, Religious Studies, Spanish, French and Further Mathematics no student attained below a C grade.
The highest scoring subject was English Literature where eight students achieved an A*, followed by History where five pupils received an A*.
- Phoenix Academy
Pupils at Phoenix Academy in Shepherds Bush celebrated another strong set of A-Level results this year.
One standout student was Omar who got an A* in Biology, an A in Chemistry and an A in Maths. He will be going on to study Pharmacy at Kings College London.
Head Girl, Reazan, is also heading to Kings to study Nursing and her classmate Infaz is off to read Aerospace Engineering at City, University of London.
Another student, Tyrell, will attend Reading University to study Pharmacology while Adna will read Politics and History at SOAS, University of London.
Ninety per cent of Phoenix pupils will progress on to their first choice university including a number who’ve secured places at Russell group universities.
Almost half of the students’ exams were graded B or higher, with 80 per cent achieving between an A* to C grade across all their subjects.
Principal Tony MacDowall said: “These results reflect the determination and passion our students have consistently demonstrated throughout their academic journey at Phoenix Academy.
“As students embark on the next chapter, I would like to offer them congratulations and wish them all the best for whatever the future may hold.”
- William Morris Sixth Form
Impressive exam results have gained more than 110 William Morris Sixth Form students places at their first-choice universities.
Fred Leney is one step closer to his dream of going into Fashion Design after securing a Distinction* and Distinction in Business and an A in Fine Art. He’ll be starting an Art Foundation course next year.
Classmate Andal Boularas earned a B in Fine Art, an A in Arabic and two Distinctions in Applied Science.
Sumaya Dehairi achieved a Distinction* in BTEC Media and two Distinction grades in BTEC Art & Design, and Chimdi Nworu was awarded two Distinction grades in Business and a Distinction in ICT.
Agueda Coutinho is ecstatic to have achieved an A* in Sociology, an A in History and a B in Geography, securing a spot to read History at Utrecht University.
Sixteen subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate, including Arabic, Business Studies, Media Studies and Film Studies where all students achieved A* to C.
Forty-two per cent of William Morris’ BTEC students achieved Distinctions or Distinction* grades and 71 per cent achieved a Distinction Merit or above.
From University College London to Queen Mary University, pupils are heading to top universities around the UK to study everything from Computer Science to Information Management for Business.
Mary Berrisford, Principal at William Morris Sixth Form said: “We have been ecstatic about our exam results today. We've had some really, really pleased students in the building.
“We're just so pleased for all of our students who've done so exceedingly well this year. It's been glorious.”
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