Islington students celebrate achievements in their A Level

Islington Council joined students celebrating their extraordinary achievements in A Level, vocational, and technical courses today as they received their exam results.This was another strong year of performances across the borough’s secondary schools, with results reflecting the national trend, seeing an increase in the proportion of top grades compared to both last year and pre-pandemic.The Deputy Mayor of Islington, Cllr Jason Jackson, personally congratulated pupils who were picking up their results at City of London Academy (COLA) Highgate Hill this morning – the first cohort at the school to complete A Levels.There were many examples of students working hard and exceeding their own expectations, with some securing places at top universities, including Cambridge.COLA Highgate Hill student Isabel Sarriegui is pursuing her dream to be an archaeologist after picking up three A*s and an A grade, and is heading to Cambridge University to study natural sciences. “I was feeling very anxious and stressed on the way here; there was such a big relief just to open the results,” she said, adding: “It’s a big help being in this school because I’m surrounded by all my peers that are just as hard-working as me – it's very easy to keep yourself motivated and on-track.”

Fellow pupil Sarwar Foyez is heading to University College London to study mathematics after achieving three A* grades in maths, further maths and chemistry. His parents cried when he broke the news to them, but he “kept it composed” himself. Sarwar paid tribute to his experience at the sixth form, which allowed him “to get that deeper, burning passion for maths”. At UCL he said he plans to “develop my mathematical capabilities and broaden my horizon for maths and see where that takes me.”

At Central Foundation Boys’ School, Seyam Muhaimin said he’s “leaning towards” a career in finance after gaining an A* in business and As in both maths and computer science. After a gap year he may head to LSE or King’s College London. “I didn’t do computer science for GCSE, and I came to this school and started to do it because I knew there was a future in technology,” he said.

“But in my first lesson I remember I didn’t understand a single word. I went to the Head of Year and I told him, ‘Sir, I can’t do computer science,’ and he told me to give it two or three weeks. But I put in the hard work and got support from my teachers, and I got that [result]. I’m very thrilled.”

Meanwhile, Charlie-George Linley will be starting a general engineering degree at Sheffield University after gaining two A*s in physics and maths and an A in computer science. “I’m very pleased,” he said. “I was quite nervous about it – it's gone quite fast honestly because I’ve been having fun this summer. I knew I was off to university, this morning at 8am because I checked my UCAS and confirmed my offer, but I didn’t know what grades I got until I came here.”

Deputy Mayor Cllr Jackson said: “I was delighted to join students celebrating their achievements today. Speaking to them reminded me that behind every set of results is a story of personal triumph, lots of hard work and dedication. I’m incredibly proud of every one of Islington’s students and look forward to hearing how they’ve continued to go from strength to strength as they make their way in the world. Congratulations to all!”

Cllr Michelline Safi-Ngongo, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “Once again, I’ve been impressed by the sheer dedication and ambition of our students. I’d like to congratulate every single student – and recognise the brilliant supportive network of teachers, parents, and others who have helped them on their way.

“Results day is also a time to reflect on next steps and what the future holds. Our Progress Team, a dedicated team of careers advisors, are on hand for anyone who’d like to see what their options are, including job opportunities and further training. They are a vital part of our commitment to ensure every young person has the best start in life and is given every opportunity to thrive.”

Any students looking for guidance on their next steps is encouraged to contact the council's Progress Team of friendly career advisors, who can provide essential support, advice, and information. They can assist with securing places at college, training courses, or job opportunities. Contact the Progress Team throughout the summer at [email protected] or on 020 7527 7031.