GCSE Results 2021: Success stories and pictures as they come in

Year 11 pupils all over Brent and Kilburn will be picked up their GCSE results on Thursday (August 12).

For the second year in a row, pupils were not able to sit exams. Instead, grades were awarded based on teacher assessments.

Teachers took into account mock exams, in-class tests, essays and coursework.

GCSE grades range from 1 to 9, with an 8 or a 9 equivalent to what used to be called an A*. 

Results received at the time of writing, in alphabetical order:

Alperton Community School

Alperton students demonstrated "incredible resilience and determination" with more than 100 pupils attaining top marks.

In total, ACS students achieved 491 grades at 9-7.
With 87 GCSE Grade 9 results, the school is progressing year on year. 

More than 100 students achieving the top grades (9-7) in English and maths.

There was huge success with the sciences, with more than 100 grades at 9-7 in 
biology, chemistry and physics.

Nikhil Kirticumar was very pleased with his full set of grade 9 results in all 10 of his GCSEs, including top marks in further mathematics.

He said:  “I’m extremely happy with my results and proud of my achievements. I want to say thank you to all my teachers for all their support.”

Deepti Pindolia was also delighted with nine 9s and one 8.

“I was so happy with my results. I would like to thank my teachers for all their help. I am looking forward to studying for my A Levels in the sixth form.”

Gerard McKenna, headteacher, said: “We are very proud of our students who have shown amazing fortitude and resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"They have endured lockdowns, remote learning, regular Covid testing as well as unparalleled changes to assessment procedures.

"Given that our community has suffered particularly high infection rates, we are especially proud of your achievements and wish you every success in your
future endeavours.

"I would also like to thank all of our teachers and support staff who have
worked tirelessly to support our students in extremely challenging and unprecedented circumstances.”

Ark Academy

There was great joy in Wembley as Ark Academy pupils received their GCSE results, with the cohort achieving "many fabulous outcomes".

"Their achievements are totally deserved," said a spokesperson.

Top scorers include Cyrus Walsh who was congratulated by his friend after achieving a clean sweep of grade 9s plus an A grade in additional maths.

"Cyrus has applied himself throughout his school life and earned every one of those grades," said the spokesperson.

An equally happy was  Zaki Sheik with his clutch of 8s and 9s, and a B in additional maths.

The teen is staying on at the school to take maths, further maths, chemistry and biology A Levels.

Sapphire Senior Domas received five 9s, two 8s, two 7s, and a distinction in performing arts and C grade in additional maths.

She will study A level biology, psychology and geography.

Ismael Pemberton achieved five 9s, two 8s, two 7s and A grade in additional maths while Simrah Khan received two 9s and four 8s "plus a clutch of other good grades".

Delia Smith, principal, said she was delighted with the strength of the  GCSE results across the board.

"The students responded incredibly well to the pressure on return from lockdown in March to produce their best in the assessments," she added.

Capital City Academy

Pupils at Capital City Academy jumped for joy after finally getting their GCSE results after two challenging years.

Hao Han and Daniel Lopes, who both started their journey together from John Keble Primary were happy with their haul of grades.

Daniel who described the year as a "rollercoaster" achieved four 9s, three 8s and three 7s.

Hao received one 9, two 8s, three 6s and two 5s - the equivalent of a B.

He felt his success was due to “family and friends who made me strive for greatness”.

Sarah Habibi achieved an 8, five 7s, two 6s and two 5s and carries with her good memories.  

“I’ll remember all the fun we had in maths class and great debates in English – one class in which my hand was up constantly,” she said.

Sayeda Khanum did exceptionally well considering a house move meant she had to re-do lots fo here work. Her revision notes were put into temporary storage which should have been short term, but due to the pandemic the move took two years.

She achieved seven grade 9s, two 8s and a 7 and will stay at Capital 6 to do four A Levels.

She chose a quote to sum up her experience: “For indeed with hardship comes ease.”

Marianne Jeanes, principal, said: “Our Year 11 cohort have worked so hard especially throughout the last year and have shown amazing resilience, determination and work ethic in the face of so much uncertainty. They have been fantastic role models.

"We are very proud to be celebrating with them such superb GCSE results. We are so pleased that they have received the results they deserve today and that so many of them are enrolled into Capital 6.

"We thank all our Capital staff, students and parents and join them in celebrating many fantastic individual performances each with an impressive number of top grades.”

Claremont High School

It's a family affair at Claremont High School as three sets of twins are among the GCSE success stories this year.

Mihnea and Tudor Lazar share twenty level 9 and 8s between them.

Tudor said: "There’s always a degree of competition between twins, but it’s a very good competition."

Minhea added: ‘It feels great – I expected much worse!’

Dev and Deep Patel scored sixteen 8s and 9s, and the third set, Rishabesh and Rishikesh Suthaar racked up 16  7 to 9 grades, and four 6s.

Top scorers Astha Popat, Sana Khan and Shrinidhi Sathish achieved a full sweep of ten 9s, and many other students had 7 to 9 grades.

Aastha said: "It feels like a big relief. I worked so hard and I can see the results right here."

Firoz Wong, who received a batch of 9s and 8s, said: "I am slightly overwhelmed but amazingly happy with what I have achieved this year."

Some pupils remarked on what a challenge the pandemic years have been. 

Abarnaya Jeevaraj with her string of 7s to 9s, said: "We didn’t really have school for almost a year and we missed a lot of content. But I’m really happy now with my grades."

For others there was the disappointment of not getting quite the grades they expected. Bradley Morrison felt he "didn’t do as well as in the mocks", but still managed an impressive eight level 7s and 8s.

Headteacher Nicki Hyde-Boughey said: "This has been an immensely difficult year for education and our students have coped with it magnificently.

"They continue to achieve excellent results and improve year-on-year, and we are delighted that so many have achieved top grades."

Newman Catholic College

GCSE students at Newman Catholic College have done a grade and a third better than expected despite the challenges of studying during the pandemic.

Overall 78pc of students have English as an additional language, but that didn't stop them from excelling in English as a subject by a grade and a third too.

Among the successes, in a year when much teaching was remote, was Ysaiah Reyes, who attained a string of As and A*s (7,8,9s).

The 16-year-old said: "It was heavy going and I would have preferred to have been in school but I am really pleased with my results.

“The school really helped us out. All the lessons were streamed live during the lockdown with actual teachers so we didn't feel we missed out too much."

Michel Chidoule, 16, from Harlesden, came to the UK from Nigeria in 2019.

The 16-year-old is an aspiring doctor and achieved "six As" but is moving to Leicester where he'll do his A Levels.

He said: "I am pleased with my results and it shows you get back what you invested.

“I found studying at home during the pandemic quite easy as it allowed me to study at my own pace."

At 15, Dillion Donnelly is the youngest pupil to pick up his GCSE results and won a scholarship to complete his A Levels in Brighton.

Thanks to his incredible results of "5As and 6A*s" he is off to Radley College.

Once he goes on to university he will become the first in his family to enter the pool of higher education.

“I am really happy,” he said. "I’m just so proud of myself and I’m looking forward to going to Radley College before I go on to the likes of Cambridge University to do my law degree.

“When I tell people I want to be a lawyer they’ve said you can’t be a lawyer as you’re from Willesden.

“I want to prove that you can be a lawyer no matter where you are from and I aim to break those stereotypes."

Headteacher Danny Coyle said: "We are delighted with today's results given the fact that the education of students has been disrupted halfway through year 10.

"Their perseverance and resilience have resulted in their outstanding achievements.

"We feel like this country is in good hands as these young people go on to bigger things.

"We congratulate them all." 

Preston Manor

There was celebration and excitement at Preston Manor School as students received their GCSE results.

Top scorers included Iona Fernandes who came in early and was not disappointed with her seven grade 9s and three grade 8s.

She said: “I’m so thrilled with the grades I’ve achieved.”

Jay Cangi, who received five 9s, five 8s and one 7, said: “I’m really happy with my results.

"I want to thank all the teachers who helped me achieve my grades.

"I’m excited that I’m going to be staying in the Preston Manor 6th Form and continuing my education here.”

Lamar Miller, who exceeded his predicted grades in a number of subjects, said: “I want everyone to know that if you put in hard work and passion then big rewards will come.

"I want to thank the teachers for being role models, pushing me and making me excel. Thank you to my Mum for raising me so well too.”

Sharley Patel, who got five 9s, four 8s, and two 7s, said: “I’m really happy and this shows that hard work pays off.”

Alex Prodan who achieved 11 GCSEs including five 9s, five 8s, and one 7 said he was "really happy" and excited to return to the school in September to do his A Levels.

Fellow student Raneem Safieddine, who achieved four 9s and six Grade 8s, said: "If you believe in yourself and work hard you can achieve anything."

Headteacher Beth Kobel was delighted, saying: “I am so proud of our students here at Preston Manor.

"They have worked incredibly hard and have achieved so very much throughout their time at school, well beyond what our traditional exams measure.

"However, today is about celebrating their results and I am really pleased for them.

"Our students have shown resilience and determination throughout an incredibly challenging time.

"We are all very proud of what they have achieved and I know they will be successful in their next steps.”

Queen's Park Community School

QPCS students celebrated some great GCSE results after taking lots of exams between March and May.

The school in Aylestone Avenue recorded 31pc of grades at 7 to 9 and 80.5pc of grades at 4+, slightly up from their previous best GCSE year in 2018.

 Nineteen students managed to get seven or more 9 and 8 grades (A*).

Isabella’s hard work gained her ten 9s and she will stay on in the QPCS sixth form to study history, french, economics and philosophy.

Thespian Nathan is staying on for sixth form to studying mathematics, economics, physics and drama.

The teenager starred as Oliver Twist in Year 8 and now taking on the role of Marius in the 2022 production of Les Miserables.

He said: “All of the teachers are so supportive. I know that by coming to QPCS Sixth Form, I will shine.

"The school productions really help me with my confidence.”  

Riley is going on to college to study electrical engineering. He thanked his teachers for “always going to the next level to help us achieve the best we can – it has paid off for all of us”.

The school said Darragh is "delighted" to be staying at QPCS sixth form and "owes his success to the combined support of three teams": the clinical nurse specialists and consultants at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the "wonderful care from fantastic staff" at QPCS, and the love and support of his family, siblings Coren and Eden, who are also at QPCS students, and his two parents who are Brent teachers.

"Ultimately, it is Darragh’s resilience, positivity and determination - quietly coping with his very rare condition - that deserves recognition," the school added.

Headteacher Judith Enright said: “This group of young people have lived the QPCS values in supporting each other through two GCSE tough years. They should be congratulated on all their grades.

"We are all looking forward to the years ahead, with the return of our annual school production, competitive sporting fixtures, and trips and residentials.”

St Claudine's Catholic School For Girls

Year 11 students at St Claudine’s Catholic School for Girls, formerly Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College, celebrated their "exceptional results".

More than a third of all grades were awarded at the highest level of 7 to 9.

Two thirds of all grades were awarded at 9 to 5 and 16 students achieved a full set of GCSEs.

Eight students scored grade 9 in three or more subjects.

Isabelli said: "I am so happy I got the grades I need for 6th form and my dream of a Russell Group uni seems that much closer." 

While Nehal said: "These are happy tears! I got a 9 for Music!"

Headmistress Dr Louise McGowan said she was "delighted" at the results.

She added: “I could not be more proud of my girls and their teachers today.

After two years of disruption to their GCSE courses, they have battled through to reach the end, crossing the finishing line with so many well deserved high grades.

"We always seek at St Claudine’s to instil ambition and aspiration in our girls, to go beyond their goals and to be confident in what they can achieve and this year group has certainly done that.

"Having been through rigorous assessments under exam conditions, they have surpassed all expectations.”

Swaminarayan School

This Neasden private school's last set of GCSE results, as it closes for good, was the second best result in its 30 year history. 

Cllr Ketan Sheth popped down to the only Hindu independent school in Europe, in Brentfield Road, to see "beaming smiles on children's faces as well as the teachers".

Headteacher Mr Manani told him: “We have the second highest top result in the history of the school. Children and staff have worked extremely hard despite the pandemic and I am proud very, very proud."

Cllr  Sheth, chair of scrutiny at Brent Council told this paper: "I’m extremely pleased with pupils’ achievements across Brent despite all the challenges they have endured over the past 18 months or so." 

Message from Brent's education chief

Cllr Thomas Stephens, lead member for education, employment and skills at Brent Council, said: “I’d like to wish my heartfelt congratulations to all Brent pupils receiving their results this week.

“I know how hard pupils - as well as teachers, school leaders and support staff - have worked over the last year.

"Every young person in Brent should be proud of what they have achieved in the most challenging of circumstances.

“I am deeply proud of all Brent pupils this week, and of the outstanding support Brent’s schools have provided to ensure that all our young people have every opportunity to succeed.”