GCSE results 2019: ‘Significant improvement’ at Ark Elvin Academy as grades are ‘littered with 9s’

A Wembley school is celebrating a “significant improvement” on last year with many GCSE results “littered with 9s”.

Ark Elvin Academy, in Cecil Avenue, was placed in special measures three years ago but it has turned a corner with many pupils getting top grades.

Excitement, anticipation and nerves were plain on the students' faces, but perhaps none were happier than principal Rebecca Curtis and her vice principal Cara Clancy.

Ms Curtis said: "We are absolutely delighted about such a great set of results - so many inspirational sets of grades from children who have just worked so hard and really made fantastic progress."

And she said of her school, formerly Copland Community School until 2014: "We are working so hard to change the reputation of the old Copland school."

She added: "Thirty three students received more than three top grades. We are littered with 9s."

Among those delighted with results was Ubaid Nasir who received four 9s in maths, physics, chemistry and religion, two 7s in French and history, an 8 in biology and 6 in English language and literature. He was quite lost for words. His friend Romell Miller who received 6s and 7s modestly declared their grades "decent".

Kryiyes Mahendra, 16, also received four 9s among his haul of top grades. "This is exactly what I wanted," he said. "I wanted minimum 6 in everything at least and that's what I got."

Philip Gilamador could not speak a word of English when he arrived in the UK during Year 6. He got a 9 in Polish and 6 and 5 in the two English papers.

He was "really happy" about his 6 in geography. "When I came to England I didn't know a word of Englilsh and in Year 8 I started to speak fluently," he said.

"When I started here I was really grateful I was put in a class with another Polish person who could help me. We are still good friends."

Alisha Patel received 7s, 8s and 9s. "I can't believe it. I expected the worst and did my best - this is just amazing."

Her friend Asha Abdirahman got 9s in English literature and RE, three 8s, two 7s and a 6. "I was not expecting this," she said. "I never expected to get a 9, especially after looking at the boundary sheet. It feels a bit 'wow'! I couldn't have got these grades without my teachers."