Strong A Level Results after Year-on-Year Improvement at UCL Academy

This achievement is particularly impressive considering that a significant proportion of students have faced additional family challenges, whether economic, social, or emotional. Notably, a third of these students received extra financial support, while over half experienced broader extenuating circumstances.

Almost half of the cohort achieved A*-B grades, with 71% of students achieving A*-C grades, reflecting an improvement from previous years. There were admirable performances in English Literature, Art, Geography, Sociology, Further Maths, German, Spanish and Mandarin, with 100% A*-C grades achieved. In the Sciences, over 65% of students in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics attained A*-C grades.

This year, the highest accomplishments include 15 students who secured at least 2 A*/A grades, with 7 of those achieving all A*/A grades, collectively earning an exceptional 14 A* grades.

Almost all students are progressing to university, with a significant number heading to Russell Group and competitive universities. Additionally, a growing proportion of students are pursuing high-quality degree apprenticeships, including our first student to successfully secure her place in the field of Horology. 

Ms Ange Levesque, Assistant Principal Head of Sixth Form, said: “While I am absolutely delighted for our highest performing students who have consistently applied themselves to achieving academic excellence throughout their schooling, but most impressively in the last 2 years, it is the stories of individual resilience for which I share in the pride of all our school community. This year in particular, our young people have faced significant personal and domestic hardship and for many, international conflicts affecting close family and wider their community. The future holds exciting possibilities, both university and competitive apprenticeships, for all our students.

Ms Andrea Pomphrey, Principal, said: “I am so proud of UCL Academy’s A Level students and their results today, which reflect the hard work, determination, and talent of our students, the unwavering support of their families, and the dedication of our staff. These achievements have opened doors to Russell Group universities, prestigious degree apprenticeships, and a wide range of exciting opportunities. Together, we have shown what can be achieved when we aim high and fulfil our aspirations.”

Some of the stand-out individual performances from Academy students:

Ange Levesque (Head of Sixth Form) and Lotus Mohammad

Lotus Mohammad is simply an exceptional person who has achieved exceptional results by any measure. In 2020, with her family, Lotus fled conflict and hardship in Syria, overcoming the challenges of settling in the UK. If this was not enough, a physical injury resulted in an extended period away from school, coupled with significant worry for the close family left behind in Syria when the earthquake struck in 2023.  

Today, Lotus was awarded A*’s in Biology and Psychology with A’s in Chemistry and her Extended Project Qualification. This has enabled her to secure her place at UCL to study Medicine. With such a depth of life experience, Lotus will be a leader in both her personal and professional life. 

Lotus reflected, “During my time at the school, I was able to undertake work experience within UCL’s medical faculty. I can’t wait to combine my empathy as a medic with research that will change lives.”

Ange Levesque (Head of Sixth Form) with Orest Stus (Left) and Maria Petrova (Right)                                                  

Orest Stus and Maria Petrova are both members of families who fled the war in Ukraine, making the challenging transition to the UK education system and, more broadly, life within a very different cultural setting. It is one thing to speak several languages, but another to achieve outstanding academic results in your third language, which is the case for both students.  

With his sights set on a degree in Economics at Queen Mary, Orest has secured an A grade in Maths and C grades in Economics and Further Maths. During Year 12, he also achieved an A* in Russian Language and remarkably achieved outstanding results in his final school exams in Ukraine, which he completed remotely. Having achieved an impressive A in Maths and Bs in Economics and Psychology, Maria wishes to continue her education at Queen Mary, where she will study Economics and Finance.  

Ms Ange Levesque, Assistant Principal Head of Sixth Form, said: “Orest and Maria are some of the most resourceful, independent, resilient students I have the pleasure of supporting throughout their education.

Additionally…

Ange Levesque (Head of Sixth Form) facetiming Junyi Zhang (left) and Junyou Zhang (right) in Beijing to relay their fantastic results.

Junyi Zhang’s results were the best in the year, with 4 A*S in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Further Maths. Her twin sister, Junyou Zhang, also achieved stellar results, earning 2 A*S in Maths and Further Maths, as well as an A in Economics. Junyi will begin studies in Natural Sciences at Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge. She is fascinated by genetics and also by the potential of stem-cell research to advance cures for numerous diseases. “I am so grateful to UCL Academy for helping me to fulfil my dream of a place at Cambridge and for all the opportunities which I know will come from this.” Her sister Junyou will begin studies in Economics at UCL. “I am really excited to have the chance to see how economics can make a positive difference to the most disadvantaged communities.”

Hussain Farhat, Head Student, was delighted with his A*’s in Sociology and Arabic, A in Economics, and B in Mathematics. His life began in Lebanon, and as a fluent Arabic speaker, he will study International Development at King’s College London. “I want to use the strong springboard of the diverse UCL Academy community as my entry into a life of peace-building which contributes to some of the world’s most devastated contexts.”

Rehman Hussain was thrilled with his A*s in Economics and Maths, as well as his A in Further Maths. He will soon begin studies in Maths, Operational Research, Statistics, Economics (MORSE) at the University of Warwick. “The work experience opportunities that the school gave me fired my interest in the gig economy and Gen Z. I am really looking forward to learning more about this expanding reality.”

Veronica Agavelyan achieved excellent results, earning an A* in Spanish, an A in Art, and a B in Maths. She begins her architecture studies at the University of Arts London in a few weeks. “It has been fascinating for me to be educated in a purpose-built space at UCLA. I am really interested in how people interact with public spaces and make it their own. I hope to make this central to my work as an architect.”

Arian Kelmendi achieved an enviable set of results, earning an A* in Maths and As in Further Maths and Physics. Arian will pursue studies in Maths at King’s College London. He is fascinated by problem-solving, especially the practical challenges that Maths can help address, such as accessibility issues on TfL. “I want to show how Maths really makes an everyday difference in people’s lives.” Arian stressed that consistency and commitment were key to achieving his goals.

Executive Principal at The UCL Academy ‘delighted’ with GSCE results

UCL Academy students were waiting patiently to open their results envelopes this morning, and shortly after 8:30 a.m., the first of many smiling individuals started to emerge from the queues in the sports hall. Our 2024 GCSE cohort have performed very well across all subjects, with 82% of students securing a 4+ in English, 70% of students securing a 4+ in Maths, and 67% securing this measure in both Maths and English.

Numerous departments secured the top grades for their students with over a third achieving Grades 7-9 in English, Biology and Physics. Over 40% achieved Grades 7-9 in Chemistry, Mandarin and History, and an outstanding 50% achieved Grades 7-9 in Drama. 

Ms A Pomphrey, Interim Principal, said, “I could not be more proud of the resilience and dedication shown by students and staff at The UCL Academy. It is fantastic to be able to celebrate with them today and see their goals realised.”

Mr G Moore, Executive Principal, said “I am delighted to celebrate the hard work of staff and students shown in these outcomes and look forward to seeing many students successfully returning in September for the Sixth form.”

Carter Owen demonstrated remarkable achievement, earning four 8s and four 9s, showcasing his strong academic capabilities across the board. Carter’s love of learning and literature and his belief in humanity have inspired his creative endeavours and enabled him to succeed despite the tragic death of a parent during his time at The UCL Academy. He has inspired his peers with his dedication to all subjects in every field and we are sure to be reading the work of Carter in the future. Carter spoke extremely fondly of many of his teachers, singling out his Spanish, Maths and English Literature teachers as being hugely influential. He said “my teachers inspired, and really encouraged me to excel and work to my absolute potential.”

Noah Dobranic highlights the support of his parents in being role models for him. Moving to the UK without friends or family they have achieved and shown Noah how to follow in their footsteps. Noah travelled for hours a day in his commute to the Academy, but this did not prevent him from achieving 5 grade 9’s, 2 Grade 8’s and 1 grade 7 in his GCSE’s. Determination and wanting his parents to be proud of him have been key in his success. Noah Dobranic highlights the support of his parents in being role models for him. Moving to the UK without friends or family they have achieved and shown Noah how to follow in their footsteps. Determination and wanting his parents to be proud of him have been key in his success. Noah will continue his studies at A Level in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. He said “I formed a really strong connection with my teachers which helped me immensely, plus the resources here are amazing. The building too, the building is great, and also the lunch ladies, they create a really positive atmosphere.”

Saaiba Shamnath achieved outstanding results with seven 9s and three 8s, reflecting her exceptional dedication and academic excellence. Saiba joined the Academy in the middle of Year 9 and will now study Maths, Economics and Politics at A Level, with her long term goal being to work in the Banking/Finance sector. Saaiba said “the teachers always go above and beyond, inside and outside of lessons to give extra support, no matter how long it takes them. And the general community here fosters a really supportive environment that makes you want to do well.”

Raul Asgarov achieved top marks with four 9s and three 8s, a testament to his hard work and consistent high performance.

Deena Molokhia was thrilled with her results today, achieving 2 grade 9’s, 4 grade 8’s, 2 grade 7’s and a grade 6. Deena joined the Academy in Year 7 and will be returning in September to study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and potentially a fourth A Level, with her long-term aspiration being to work in the field of Engineering. Deena said “the relationship between me, my teachers and my peers, has built a great environment in which I feel motivated to try my hardest.”

Nadia Khan successfully passed all core subjects despite the challenge of joining the school during GCSEs from Afghanistan. She benefited greatly from the EAL support she received and her determination to succeed. We wish her well in the next phase of her journey.

Ismail Abdihakim achieved a significant improvement from his mock exams, earning a strong pass with five 5s and a 7, thanks to close collaboration between the school and his family to support personal challenges.   

Anna Alfie joined late in Year 11 after a prolonged absence from education, but despite this, Anna achieved impressive results with 5 grades of 6 and 4 grades of 5. 

Marc Meir earned strong passes in all core subjects, including a 7 in English Language, largely due to his hard work, the school’s commitment to his well-being, and support through additional academy Maths tutoring. 

The UCL Academy celebrates very successful A Level results

Students have excelled in their A Levels at the Academy this year, achieving excellent grades in some of the most challenging subjects, such as Maths, Further Maths and the Sciences; an impressive 20.3% of the grades awarded in the A*- A bracket and 14 students were awarded straight A/A*s. Small cohorts also performed exceptionally well across all five languages, including Mandarin. Art and Sociology continued the theme with achievements that were equally impressive to those of previous years.

The Academy is immeasurably proud of our students who have confirmed their places on various degree courses at some of the country’s most prestigious universities, including our sponsor, UCL, and Imperial College, with one student going much further afield to study at the illustrious Ivy League, Princeton University in Massachusetts, USA.

The results undoubtedly reflect the quality of the school’s assessment and the excellence of Teaching and Learning in the Sixth Form at The UCL Academy.

Ms A Levesque, Assistant Principal Head of Sixth Form said:

“I am exceptionally proud of all our students who have worked so hard, including those who have faced very challenging circumstances, be it the cost of living crisis, family circumstances or those fleeing conflict and persecution from their former home countries. The future is bright, with so many of our young people possessing the drive, ambition and resilience to be highly successful at university, in apprenticeships and influential in their careers and communities.”

Mr G Moore, Executive Principal said:

“It is testament to the hard work of all our teachers and students who have performed so well across all subjects, therefore achieving fantastic opportunities at many Russell Group and other high-achieving universities. We have the highest admiration for the A Level class of 2024.”

Some of the stand-out individual performances from Academy students include:

Yazdan Khasahei, an Iranian immigrant who arrived in the UK in 2020 with minimal English proficiency, has secured a place to study medicine at King’s College. Today, our Deputy Head Boy was awarded 2 A*s in Maths and Persian, and 2 As in Biology and Chemistry.

After arriving in the UK, Yazdan had to wait one year to access formal school at The UCL Academy, which COVID-19 further impacted. Despite starting his GCSEs mid-year 10, he performed exceptionally well. Forward wind to today and his A Level grades speak for themselves; they would be impressive for anyone – let alone an immigrant who spoke such little English when he arrived in the UK. 

Yazdan is an exceptional student and person who has used his life experiences to propel him to greatness in his A Level studies, making him one of our highest achievers this year. 

Matvii Yatsenko, a refugee who fled the war in his native Ukraine in 2022, achieved stellar A Level results: 2 As in Economics and Maths, a B in Computer Science. Matvii now looks forward to studying Computer Science at The University of Edinburgh.

Such is his level of dedication; during his first year of A Levels, he also completed his studies remotely at his Ukrainian school. He made exceptional progress in both Maths and Computer Science, and despite English being his second language, Matvii has always been one of the highest-achieving students in Economics. 

Matvii openly admits the relocation was a challenge; however, he has demonstrated outstanding determination and resilience in his studies and was duly rewarded for all his hard work.

Subhan Hussein, our very own Head Boy, has today achieved  A*s in 4 subjects, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics and an A in Computer Science and will now study Computer Science and Economics at Princeton University (USA). Subhan has been a student at the Academy since Year 12 and aside from praising his very devoted teachers, he said the help he recieved with applications was second to none, which crucially allowed him to devote as much time to his studies as possible.

Viena Muhaxheri is one of our Critchley Scholars and was today celebrating her exceptional achievements at A Level: 2 A*s in Biology and Maths and an A in Chemistry. Medicine has long been Vienna’s desired area of future study at University, and she now looks forward to beginning the next chapter of her education in September at Imperial College. Vienna said the “constant support of teachers is fundamental to achieving high grades.”

James Galloway is one of our highest-achieving students this year, with 3 A*s in Further Maths, Maths and EPQ, and 2 As in Physics and Economics. James will now study Physics at Bristol University.

Arthur Sokolov has achieved an enviable set of results, with an A* in Maths, 3 As in  Computer Science, Further Maths and Physics, and an A* in EPQ. He will now travel to The University of Edinburgh to study Computer Science and Maths.

Viola Muhaxheri was thrilled with her results today, securing 3 As in Art, Biology and Maths and a B in Physics, which have secured her a place at our sponsor UCL to study Architecture. Viola is another one of our Critchley Scholars and has been at the Academy since Year 7. She said “the teachers made me feel very comfortable in the learning environment, which resulted in me becoming more confident and asking questions.”

Ali Khairdeddine was extremely happy with their grades today, achieving 2 As in English Literature and Psychology and an A* in Sociology. Ali will resume their studies this September at Manchester University in Sociology. Ali spoke warmly of the ‘drive and passion’ of their teachers, saying how this ultimately allowed them to excel in their school and personal life.

Harvey Kong was awarded an A* in Maths and 3 As in Computer Science, Further Maths and Physics and will resume his studies at Imperial College in Maths and Computer Science.

Captivating ‘Grand Challenges’ Poster Exhibition at UCL

Last week, students from Foundation to Level 1Plus spent Monday through Thursday at the Grand Challenges exhibition in the South Cloisters at UCL, a new and exciting addition to the Academy calendar. The exhibition formed part of the Grand Challenges initiative surrounding the themes of Global Health; Sustainable Cities; Cultural Understanding; Human Wellbeing; Justice & Equality and Transformative Technology, with the focus of this particular exhibition being Climate Change, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Justice and Equality.

Day 1 – Students collected data from UCL students and staff on their thoughts about the exhibition.

Day 2 – Students were on site answering questions from exhibition visitors about their work.

Day 3 –  Professor Alan Thompson Pro-Provost (London) announced the winners at the Prize Giving ceremony.

The Climate Change Grand Challenge project poster winners were (left to right) Eric Sebastian Mihai, Zoe NioTakis and Amber-Lilly Cooke (not in image). Foundation Level students, Amber-Lilly, Eric and Zoe created a poster about how we could make the UCL Academy carbon- neutral by 2030. They included ideas such as solar panels and a vegetable garden on the roof, recycling and compost bins, and a biomass boiler. Occupying a central position in the centre of the poster was a poignant quote, ‘you’ll die of old age, I’ll die of climate change’. All pupils expressed their concern about the future state of the planet, and therefore want to find innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Sustainable Cities Grand Challenge project poster winners were Horace Worall (left) and Santiago Cardoso (right), two keen Level 1Plus mathematicians. Horace snd Santiago worked on the poster during maths club, using the opportunity to evocatively illustrate mathematics’s impact in creating future sustainable cities.

Level 1Plus students also worked on the Grand Challenge of “Justice & Equality”, initially looking at Protest Art to push and inform ideas.

The Justice & Equality Grand Challenge project poster winners were (left to right) Anna Ivankiv, Rahim Ali, Rahma Mohammed and Nova Goldgaber.

In the words of the students:

“Our collage is about the cost of living crisis. It is meant to show the difference in life depending on how much money you have. The pavement is made of money and jewels, and those who are rich and have financial stability get to walk and live. But those without financial stability fall through the cracks and suffer.”

Day 4 – Students once again on site to welcome visitors, answer questions and mark the end of a hugely insightful exhibition.

The collaborative efforts of students produced some awe-inspiring work, which thanks to our sponsor UCL, had exposure to a wide range of UCL students and academics as well as the visiting public. Weaving conversations about these hugely important topics into day-to-day life can catalyse far wider-reaching positive changes, something our students undoubtedly played their part in last week.

Thought Provoking AI Talk by Google Deepmind’s Antonia Paterson 

Unbeknown to most, AI has been in existence for decades, quietly and inconspicuously used in research, mostly focused in STEM related fields.

It moved into the public consciousness largely by virtue of companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, who used it to extract, secure and disseminate information to ‘improve and personalise the customer experience’. 

Whether or not you approve of the way in which personal information is captured and used by a multitude of companies worldwide, the fact remains AI is now deemed essential across a vast array of industries, including health care, banking, retail, and manufacturing. It therefore comes as no surprise that the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies have been a talking point since its creation and have continued to escalate over the past decade.

Just before the half term break, students were enthralled by a lecture given by Antonia Paterson of Google DeepMind, Science Manager, Responsible Development and Innovation Team. Antonia spoke largely about the challenges faced by companies in ensuring the priority of safeguarding humans is upheld at all times. 

Those students fortunate enough to secure a seat in the full capacity library were given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk…which they did in bounds. Antonio very graciously answered a slew of interesting and inquiring questions from students across many year groups.

Antonia remarked ‘the questions were on par with those she is asked by new recruits to DeepMind when they are inducted to her course’. 

Many thanks for everyone’s part in making this event a success, especially Antonia. Her generosity in sharing her time and knowledge of this cutting-edge technology allowed our students to consider a unique perspective of a field associated with many subjects studied at the Academy, namely, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Sociology.

Exciting new exhibition added to Grand Challenges calendar

Most of you will already know about ‘Grand Challenges’, a UCL initiative that provides our students and staff with opportunities to learn from academics relating to global concepts and ideas surrounding the themes of Global Health; Sustainable Cities; Cultural Understanding; Human Wellbeing; Justice & Equality and Transformative Technology.

Students complete multiple projects across the year and throughout their entire education at the Academy. This year, the scope of work has been broadened to include an exhibition, whereby Year 10 students will be asked to represent their findings through the medium of Art, specifically in the format of a poster.

The focus of the exhibition will be Climate Change, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Justice and Equality. This marks the debut of an exciting new way in which students can convey their understanding, thoughts and opinions on these important themes.

‘Art’ will not only allow the students to represent their thoughts in a literal manner, but will also provide the perfect opportunity to incorporate symbolic messages by using symbols and imagery that hold a specific meaning or connotation. Literature, religion, politics and personal experiences always play their part in discussions surrounding the ‘Big Themes’ and we have no doubt the work on show at the exhibition will further express the connections our students make with these matters of pressing societal concern. 

Please show your support for this wonderful new addition to the ‘Grand Challenges’ academy calendar by visiting the exhibition, where you will meet Year 10 students and hear about their work. Parents, carers, wider family members and friends of The UCL Academy are all most welcome.

The exhibition will take place at the South Cloisters, Wilkins Building, UCL and will be open to visitors on Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th February, 10am-12pm. On Wednesday 28th, the exhibition will be open from 12pm-2pm, with the Prize Giving Ceremony by Professor Alan Thompson Pro-Provost (London) taking place from 1pm onwards.

For more information on the event, please contact Sarah Beech at [email protected]