A student who chose to attend Uxbridge College despite having to make a daily commute of four hours is celebrating top results after sitting his GCSEs in one year.
Yamen Badran (18) (pictured), who lives in Morden in Surrey, was this year’s highest achiever in The Academy, Uxbridge College’s sixth form centre, after gaining A* grades in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and a C in English. College students, who normally take five GCSEs in one year rather than the higher number of exams sat in school over two years, will be moving on to the reformed system of GCSE grades next year, which uses numbers rather than letters in its grading system, with a few exceptions starting this year.
The College is one of relatively few offering full-time one year GCSE programmes, for students who are taking resits, or doing GCSEs for the first time because they have been home-schooled or recently arrived in the UK. The study programme offers a springboard to A Levels or vocational qualifications and ultimately to university or into a broad range of careers.
Yamen, who came to the UK from Syria two years ago, is now enrolling on A Levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry at Uxbridge College and intends to go on to university to study Aeronautical Engineering.
Yamen said: “I am very happy, I studied hard for four hours a day and am very pleased with my results. My teachers were always there to help even after class or if I had extra questions or a problem.”
This year 58% of Academy students achieved A*-C grades, with 98% passing at grades A*-G.
Amanda Washbrook, Head of The Academy, said: “Congratulations to all our students on the GCSE programme for their hard work and excellent achievements - their results are extremely pleasing and it is good to see how many intend to continue their studies with us. There are not that many Colleges which offer the one-year GCSE programme which leads to a unique range of progression opportunities in education and careers. Successful GCSE students often stay on at College to do A Levels and then go to university, they may do vocational qualifications such as BTECs, or take up work-related opportunities.”
Also among the top performers were:
* Maimuna Islam (17), who got grade As in Statistics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics and a B in English, and is staying at Uxbridge College to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. She aims to study Medicine at University.
* Kasey Smith (23), who got A* grades in English and Media Studies, a 7/A in English Literature, a B in Sociology and a C in Maths. Kasey is enrolling at Uxbridge College to study English, Politics and History, and wants to do a degree in Creative Writing. He worked in retail after leaving school before deciding to return to education to improve his life opportunities.
* Puneet Kaur Grewal (17), who got A* grades in Maths and Physics, As in Biology and Chemistry, and a B in English. She will be taking A Levels at Uxbridge College and plans to study a Maths-related subject at university.
* Syeda Kunzal Imaan (17), who achieved an A* in Chemistry, A grades in Biology and Physics, and Bs in Maths and English. Syeda is also planning to study A Levels at Uxbridge College and hopes to do a degree in Physics.
* Andrew Lubega (18), who achieved A grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and Bs in English and Maths. Andrew, who studied Engineering and Electronics for a year at Uxbridge College before progressing to his GCSEs, is due to stay on to study A Levels in Physics, Chemistry and Maths and wants to study Aeronautical Engineering at university.
* Sameen Ahmed (18), who got A*s in Biology and Physics, A grades in Maths and Chemistry, and a B in English.