Pupils in Alperton braved the rain to collect a set of stunning A-level results.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Ajay Patel, 18, received three A* in his A-Levels at Alperton Community School (Picture: Nathalie Raffray)Ajay Patel, 18, received three A* in his A-Levels at Alperton Community School (Picture: Nathalie Raffray) (Image: Archant)

Ajay Patel, a sixth form pupil at Alperton Community School in Stanley Avenue, achieved three A* grades in maths, further maths and economics. He’s off to Warwick University in September to study economics.

The 18-year-old said: “I’m overwhelmed and over the moon. I really didn’t think I’d do this well, especially with the new system.”

Ajay surprised himself two years ago when he secured 10 A*s and 3 As in his GCSEs and hopes to become an investment banker. “I never thought I was A* material,” he said. “During GCSEs and A-levels the teachers just always took time out during break and lunch time to help us with any questions we had.”

Friends Hariyali Ramesh, Sarthak Patel and Hetvi Naik, 18, all got three As in biology, chemistry and maths, and are all heading to UCL.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Alperton Community School's Hariyali Ramesh, Sarthak Patel and Hetvi Naik all got three As in their A-Levels (Picture: Nathalie Raffray)Alperton Community School's Hariyali Ramesh, Sarthak Patel and Hetvi Naik all got three As in their A-Levels (Picture: Nathalie Raffray) (Image: Archant)

Hariyali will study medical science and engineering, Sarthak pharmacy and Hetvi medicine.

The sixth formers are the first cohort of pupils to sit the new “linear” A-levels, where students are no longer continually assessed but start the course in Year 12 and only get tested at the end.

“The exams were quite stressful,” Hariya said. “I found them quite hard and didn’t expect the grades to be good.”

Others who did well included Iman Hammoud, who is off to St George’s London University to study radiography with her A and two Bs.

Her friends Laxzaa Kaneswaran and Sidhi Lacmichande were waiting to open their results but already knew they’d secured university places to read biomedecine (Laxzaa) and economics (Sidhi).

Assistant headteacher Alan Hart said: “This is the first year of the new linear model for A-levels and the grades have held up really well. They didn’t have past papers or text books.

“Many of them have been getting into their first choice universities, are taking gap years or going off to do apprenticeships, which is really good news.”

Mirian Manderson, deputy head teacher, added: “Our students have done really well and got the grades they deserve. It allows them to make the very best choices for the next step, universities, apprenticeships and beyond. We are very proud of them.”