Nervous students queued for their GCSE results this morning, and in a year in which the number of pupils achieving five good grades is expected to smash records, Brent had many success stories of its own to tell, writes Kate Ferguson. One of those is Cl

Nervous students queued for their GCSE results this morning, and in a year in which the number of pupils achieving five good grades is expected to smash records, Brent had many success stories of its own to tell, writes Kate Ferguson.

One of those is Claremont student Samira Khalil, 16, who got 10 A* and 3 A grade in her GCSEs.

Originally from Afghanistan, where young girls are routinely denied access to education, she said she was delighted to score such high grades.

In May the Times reported that Samira wrote to some of the country's most successful figures to tell them about her exams.

The Queen, Gordon Brown, Michael Owen and Boris Johnson were among the famous figures who wrote back wishing her good luck.

And judging by Samira's incredible results, the good luck cards were just the trick.

She said: "I am really pleased with my results - I think the good luck letters did their magic.

"I worked really hard for the exams but I was nervous this morning. I woke up at 6am to find out some of my results online, but I had so much nervous energy I had to hit the gym for two hours before coming to school to burn it off.

"My mum was ecstatic when she heard what I got - she was jumping up and down on the sofa."

Samira plans to study maths, economics, chemistry and physics for A levels, at Claremont.

At nearby Copland identical twins Hadjer and Sarah Berrah were celebrating near identical success after they scored 7 A*s and 2 As in the same subjects.

Hadjer Berrah said: "I am ecstatic. I didn't expect such good grades.

"I was trembling as I stood in the queue to pick up my marks.

"My parents have been on tenterhooks all summer so they will be really pleased to hear both me and my sister did so well."

Meanwhile at Capital City Academy in Willesden, Amina Seylani, 16, received 8 A*s and 3 As. An Afghani �migr� who fled her home shortly after war was declared in 2001, Amina said this experience spurred her to work hard.

She said: "Every time I think about Afghanistan I think about how different my life would be. I really appreciate what I have got here and know that you can't mess around in class because there are other people who would have jumped at the chance of having this opportunity. It is precious and I have to make the most of it."

She plans to chemistry, biology, maths and history at Woodhouse College, and wants to become doctor.