The A level results that were published on Thursday 13 August across the country, have shown that the number of UK pupils taking core academic subjects at A-level has increased over the past year. But according to data from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), the proportion of A-level papers receiving A* or A grades has fallen for the fourth successive year, with 25.9% of entrants getting one of the top two grades in 2015 compared to 26% last year.
However, Brit-Asian parents have always tried to emphasise on the importance of education more than others. Eventually resulting into the children growing up as competitive, more ambitious and putting much greater emphasis on education and score cards.
The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, who has a number of Asian pupils studying in the school (majority of Gujarati descent) has also witnessed a great outcome.
Peter Hamilton, Headmaster of The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, has congratulated every member of the Sixth Form on outstanding achievements in their A-level results on the morning of 13th August. He added, “With 45.3% of all grades being A* and 83.1% of grades being A*-A these results are absolutely stunning. More important are the individual boys’ successes with most gaining access to their chosen university.”
The headteacher of Brighton college, Richard Cairns, said his school had produced incredible results, after the independent school announced the best ever performance by a co-educational school in England. More than 98% of its entrants gained grades between A* and B, and none achieved lower than C.
One pupil, Majid Mohamed, gained three A* grades and an A, and follows his elder brothers Omar and Abeed in going from Brighton college to Cambridge University.
The Swaminarayan School, which was recently judged to be excellent in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, has also announced excellent A Level results for its students. 83% of the grades were A*-C grades with the performance score per pupil at 335, which is the highest ever and equivalent to A*BB grades per pupil on average.
Headmaster Nilesh Manani said: “TSS continues to deliver exceptional value with large number of pupils achieving their first choice places to Russell Group of universities in competitive courses. This is only possible by dedicated students guided by exceptional teachers and supportive parents who value education and understand what hard work can enable. I am proud of the entire team at TSS.”
Students who deserve a particular mention are: Samanta Zahir with 3A*s, who plans to do Medicine at Southampton, Vatsal Patel also with 3A*s who plans to do Physics at Imperial, Anmol Grover with 2 A*s and one A who plans to do Mathematics with Economics at LSE, Harshik Hirani with one A* and 2 As at A Level who is going to do Economics at Queen Mary, Avnit Patel also with one A*and 2As at A Level who will do MORSE at Warwick and Nishta Parekh with 3As who is going to do Biochemistry at Imperial.
While some pupils are celebrating their achievements, problems like students' loan, available accommodations and even immigration statuses loom large. Not every student with an outstanding result can enjoy the same fate. Hassan al-Sherbaz, 18, celebrated four A*s in Maths, further maths, Physics and Chemistry, meeting his offer to study chemical engineering at Imperial College London,
Sherbaz’s family relocated from Baghdad to Britain in 2006 so his father could take up a PhD. Sherbaz, arrived with his parents aged nine, has been educated at primary and secondary schools in Milton Keynes. But when he applied for student finance he was told his immigration status – of discretionary leave to remain – means he is not eligible for a loan and would have to pay the international tuition fee rate at £26,000 a year.
The Guardian reported that Sherbaz is still hopeful that things may look up for him, after a recent supreme court decision that could pave the way for hundreds of people, like him.
The supreme court has found that the blanket exclusionary rule preventing anyone except UK citizens or those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK from applying for student loans was disproportionate and could not be justified.
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If you know someone who has just received their A levels result and have done expectantly well, please email us a photo and a congratulatory message within 25 words to [email protected], and we will publish it in Asian Voice, without any charges. Last date of entry: 31 August 2015.
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