UCL Academy GCSE students echo A Level achievements last week

UCL Academy students gathered at the school entrance early this morning, their anticipation evident as they awaited the doors to open. A palpable sense of excitement always fills the air as students anticipate their results, and it soon became clear that there would be much to celebrate this year. Following the impressive achievements of their Sixth Form peers last week, UCL Academy is celebrating another set of strong GCSE results. Of particular note is the significant improvement in the number of 9-7 grades awarded. Almost a quarter of all grades achieved this year were at this high level. We are also especially proud of the performance of our students with English as an Additional Language and students with Special Educational Needs, who have been supported by expert staff and quality first teaching to achieve results that have enabled them to pursue their desired next steps.

 

Andrea Pomphrey, Principal, said:

“This year, a key focus for the Academy has been to strengthen students’ progress at the highest grades of 9–7. I am delighted that a quarter of our students achieved this standard – a reflection of their commitment and the unwavering dedication and support of our staff.

I am equally proud of the resilience shown by so many of our young people who, despite facing significant personal challenges, domestic hardship, and the impact of international conflicts on their families, have secured results that will enable them to pursue ambitious and aspirational academic pathways. Their achievements are truly inspiring and demonstrate the strength of our school community.”

 

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

Dariia Baloh (no photo available) – Dariia joined the school at the end of Year 10, when her family fled the war in Ukraine, making the challenging transition to the UK education system and, more broadly, life within a very different cultural setting. She was supported by our excellent English as an Additional Language (EAL) team to achieve a grade 5 in English Language, 6 in Maths and 4s in Combined Science. She also achieved a grade 5 in Music; her outstanding piano playing was showcased at the end-of-year graduation ceremony. Dariia will continue her studies at UCL Academy, going on to study A Level Maths, Business and Chemistry. She credited the “willingness of teachers to talk and support” as being key to her achievements.

Stephanie Ngugi

Stephanie Ngugi – Stephanie joined the school in Year 10, having moved from Tanzania with limited English. She was one of a number of EAL students celebrating excellent GCSEs at the academy, including a grade 8 in English Language. Stephanie achieved 1 grade 8, 1 grade 7, 4 6s, 6 5s and 2 4s. Stephanie will continue her studies in Biology, Chemistry and Sociology, with a long-term plan of studying Microbiology at University. She said, “I struggled at first because of my English, but the supportive school environment helped me enormously.”

Maria Nahar

Maria Nahar – Maria joined the academy in year 9. Having shown resilience through a number of significant challenges, Maria achieved a grade 9 in history, alongside 4 8s in English Language, English Literature, Maths and Sociology. Her determination has been remarkable and we are very proud of her. We are therefore extremely happy that Maria has decided to continue at the academy, studying A Level, Maths, History and English Literature, and potentially a fourth, Sociology. Maria said the “overall level of support in the school” be it from teachers, support staff or other students, undoubtedly helped her achieve her grades. Her future journey will certainly be one to watch.

 

Stanley Bradford

Stanley Bradford – Stanley is our highest-achieving student. He was awarded 9 grade 9s and 1 7, a herculean feat by any means. Stanley was unable to collect his results in person today, but sent the following message: “Thanks so much to all the amazing teachers at UCL Academy!! See you next year for A-levels!” It goes without saying how delighted we are that Stanley has chosen to study for his A Levels at the academy.

 

Lev Chapovskiy

Lev Chapovskiy – Lev is celebrating considerable success today with 10 GCSEs, achieving 3 grade 9s, 5 8s, 1 7 and 1 6. Lev will continue his studies at the Academy, choosing A Level English Literature, Maths, History and Chemistry. He spoke warmly about UCL Academy teachers and “their determination to help everybody achieve their goals.”

Ruby Giles

Ruby Giles – Ruby Giles achieved significant success with 2 grade 9s, 4 8s and 1 7.

 

Charlie Harrison
Charlie Harrison – Charlie was thrilled to collect his results this morning which included 11 GCSEs, comprising 2 grade 9s, 7 8s and 2 7s. Charlie said he moved to the Academy because he thought the teaching would be better, but quickly realised after joining that he would also have “better friends and community at the school.”

 

Hadia Arian (no photo available) – Today, Hadia is celebrating an outstanding set of results, including 10 GCSEs, comprising 5 grade 9s, 3 8s and 2 7s. She has been at the academy since Year 7, but will continue her studies elsewhere, taking A Level Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Economics. Hadia singled out her Maths lessons at the Academy, saying “They were the lessons I enjoyed the most, by far. I never left a Maths lesson feeling confused, because the teacher would always ensure everything was explained and understood before the end of every lesson.”

 

Isabelle Penfold

Isabelle Penfold – Isabelle worked exceptionally hard to attain her predicted grades and was delighted to achieve 8 grade 9s, 1 8 and 2 7s. Isabelle has chosen to study the International Baccalaureate (IB) and will therefore be studying elsewhere going forward. She spoke about the “family environment” at the academy, and the caring attitude of the teachers, who over the course of her studies, helped her enormously.

 

Gabriel Azevedo

Gabriel Azevedo – After achieving 5 grade 9s, 3 8s, 2 7s and 1 6, Gabriel was rightfully proud of his achievements this morning. Gabriel joined the academy in year 8 and will continue his education elsewhere, studying Classics, Biology, Physics and Maths. He attributes his success to hard work on his part, but also to his teachers. 

 

Kiwa Urabe Baudour

Kiwa Urabe Baudour – Kiwa is one of our top-achieving students, who was awarded 11 GCSEs comprising 6 grade 9s, 2 8s, 2 7s and 1 6. Kiwa has been with us since Year 7 and will now study A Level  English Literature, History and Maths here at the academy. Kiwa has a keen interest in writing and is already considering a degree in Journalism. She expressed sincere thanks to her teachers, and said the relationships she built with them allowed her to “talk to them on a different level”, which in turn benefited her studies considerably.

 

Felix Wedberg

Felix Wedberg – Also a student at the academy since Year 7, today, Felix was duly rewarded for his work ethic and determination, achieving a mightily impressive 5 grade 9s, 2 8s and 3 7s. Felix will return to the academy next term to study A Level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics. Felix cited the “help from my teachers and my parents” as being crucial to his success.

 

Shanaaya Samant

Shanaaya Samant – Shanaaya is yet another one of our top-achieving students with 11 GCSEs, comprising 5 grade 9s, 3 8s and 3 7s. Shanaaya has been at the academy since Year 7, but today we bid her a fond farewell, as she prepares to study for her A Levels at another school later this year.    

Kavya Tharamal: Kavya was awarded 5 grade 9s, 3 8s, 1 7 and 1 6.

 

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) 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.