There were good reasons to celebrate for City of Westminster College students when GCSE results were announced yesterday. Many students had exceeded their own expectations and the College as a whole showed an average A-C pass rate of 66 per cent – placing it above the national average. This is a great credit to the tremendous hard work and dedication of both staff and students, especially since many of our learners have returned to academic studies or only recently settled in the UK.
There were exceptional A-C pass rates in many core curriculum subjects. These include English Literature, with a pass rate of 81 per cent, and Statistics, with a pass rate of 79 per cent. Subjects showing a strong improvement on last year’s A-C pass rate, include Biology (71 per cent), Chemistry (68 per cent) and Maths (64 per cent).
Behind the statistics are individual stories that show just how much our students have achieved – and how much further they can go thanks to their exceptional results. Success stories include:
Asqlan Pirzada, 17, from Forest Gate achieved straight As in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology plus A* in English Language and English Literature. These top grades are a real achievement because Asqlan left the UK school system in 2001 when his family moved to Pakistan and only returned in 2006 at age 15. Now he intends to stay on at the College to take five A Levels and then head to university. Asqlan says: “It’s taken a lot of hard work and some very good teachers. My advice to other students - don’t get distracted.”
Naima Sharifdahir, 18, from Camden came to the UK from Somalia in 2003. She joined City of Westminster College a year ago when her baby was just two months old – a real mind over matter achievement! Now she has A grades in Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English Language and English Literature, plus a B in Physics. Naima says: “I had a lot of support from my family and I found this a great place to study because the other students are ambitious and focused. Now I want to study A Levels here and then medicine at university.”Naima has also been featured in The Times newspaper. Click here to read the article.Koorosh Tabatabai, 17, from Harrow arrived in the UK from his native Iran in September 2007 with limited English. Less than a year on he has taken the IELTS exam and four GCSEs. He achieved B grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and a A in Maths. Koorosh says: “I came here because I wanted more opportunities for the future. The teachers here at the College were good and I also studied day and night on my own. Now I want to get my A Levels and apply for Business Studies at university.”
Abby Pierce, 18, from Westminster left school at 15 and, after working in a series of jobs decided to get the GCSEs she needed to boost her prospects. Now the proud possessor of A grades in English Language and English Literature and Bs in Biology and Chemistry, she’s set her sights on university. Abby says: “I’m very pleased with these grades – especially the science results which were better than I expected. I love reading and writing and my goal is to study at university. My advice to other students is: behave, stay out of trouble and respect your teachers!”