Exceptional Results Achieved By Local Sixth Formers

Recording breaking grades in what was a challenging year

Villiers High School students Ardhana (middle) with Jaidev and friend

In what was an exceptionally challenging year local sixth formers have managed to achieve and an impressive set of grates in their A level and BTEC Level 3 internal assessments.

Villiers High School recorded strongest set of results the sixth form has ever achieved with the exam boards have confirming the grade judgements without adjustments.

In the previous examined cohort in 2019, Villiers High School sixth form was ranked as the highest achieving sixth form in Ealing and placed in the top 1% of all sixth forms nationally. This year’s cohort have attained even better grades than their predecessors. For A levels, 41% of all grades were A*-A and 73% were A*-B. The school says this outcome is projected to be amongst the highest in the country once again.

Aruna Sharma, Headteacher said, “We are tremendously proud of our students’ achievements. They have persevered through an unbelievably challenging period with drive, determination and optimism. We wish them the very best for the next stage in their education whether it be at a university or apprenticeship.”

Villiers High School students will progress on to some of the best universities in the world, including London School of Economics, University College London, Queen Mary’s and King’s College London.

Group of high achievers at Villiers including Muqarrab, Jahanzeb, Satbir, Hardik and Ardhana

Following his exceptional performance at GCSE with straight grade 9’s, Jahanzeb Sayed attained 3 A* grades at A level and will be moving on to the LSE to study finance. Muqarrab Sayed also achieved A*A*A* and will be studying medicine at UCL. Satbir Virdee gained A*A*A* in maths, physics and computer science and will be progressing on to UCL to study computer science.

Amongst the highest achievers was Head Girl Ardhana who attained A*A* B and will be going to university to study aviation, “I was nervous but am absolutely elated and over the moon. I can’t wait to study the course of my dreams and become a pilot. Thanks to all my teachers, they were brilliant.”

Hardik Dineshchandra gained 3 A* grades and 1 A in computer science, mathematics, history and the Extended Projection Qualification. Dinesh stated, “I am over the moon! I look forward to moving on to university to study computer science. I have had great support from teachers and will enjoy the celebrations tonight.”

Three quarters of St Benedict’s students have secured places at the UK’s top 30 universities, including Oxbridge, Russell group universities and medical schools, and the majority will be heading to their first-choice university.

The Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, said, “These grades are a great credit to our Year 13 students, who have worked extremely hard in the difficult, uncertain and sometimes stressful circumstances of the pandemic to achieve outstanding results. They have shown impressive resilience and should feel very proud of what they have achieved.”

St Benedict's students with the Head after collecting their results

St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent school for girls saw 100% of all A Level grades at A* - C with 28% of pupils achieving only A* grades and ·56% of pupils achieving only A* or A grades.

Students have received offers from a range of courses and universities nationwide, which include Mathematics at Bristol University, Politics and International Studies at Warwick University, Dental Surgery at Plymouth University, Biomedical Sciences at Exeter University, Russian Studies and Social Policy/Sociology and Politics at Edinburgh University, Chemical Engineering at University College London and Classical Studies at King’s College London.

Mrs Raffray, Headteacher of St Augustine’s Priory, commented, “We are all delighted by these A Level results. The students worked with zest and energy, supported by outstanding teachers who mustered every reserve of energy in the middle of a very bleak winter to ensure that this exam series delivered the right results for each candidate. Congratulations to all our girls on their excellent results.”

St. Augustine's sixth formers show off their grades

At Isleworth and Syon School, Deputy Head Boy Morgan Lawrence has earned a place at King’s College London to read psychology, while classmate Billy Mwangi will join him at the same institution, studying an accounting and finance degree.

The school’s first-ever Head Girl, Alina Gangotra, will use her A levels in art, French and English literature to read architecture at the University of Nottingham.

Headteacher Mr Ferguson commented, “I would like to give my sincere congratulations to all the students for their results. Our students have risen to the challenges of the past 18 months and should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. My thanks also to the staff who have worked tirelessly as both teachers and examiners this year. We wish students well with their next steps.”

Isleworth & Syon's Deputy Head Boy is going to King's College, London

This year, following the cancellation of examinations, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards. The government is not publishing performance data for any schools or colleges due to the varying impact of the pandemic.

Nationally, the proportion of A-level entries awarded an A grade or higher reached a record level with girls performing better than boys including in maths.

44.8% of UK students were awarded an A or A* grade this summer a rise of 6.3 percentage points compared with last year.

The proportion of entries awarded an A* grade this year increased to 19.1% the highest ever level since this grade was introduced in 2010.

Ofqual have published figures showing that 6.9% of students in England were awarded three A*s compared with 4.3% in 2020 and 1.6% in 2019.

August 12, 2021