UCS Sixth Formers share their joy at record A Level results
Year 13 pupils at UCS Hampstead today have much to celebrate following their impressive A Level results.
Despite not having the experience of sitting GCSEs under their belts, they tackled these public exams with resilience, good humour and hard work. Their approach is reflected in 45% of grades being awarded an A* and 81% an A or A*; an achievement that they and their teachers are delighted with.
Mark Beard, Headmaster of the UCS Foundation, commented: “It is wonderful to be able to recognise the height of achievement these results represent for this particular cohort: this was the year group forced into the first lockdown in spring 2020, who sat no public exams at GCSE level that summer, and who endured two difficult years of Sixth Form education whilst the nation suffered the impact of the pandemic. Our charges deserve wholeheartedly these excellent grades. And, too, much credit goes to their supportive families and to the UCS staff for their unstinting effort and commitment to ensure the best possible outcomes for the young people we are here to help.”
This year’s leavers’ nerves now turn to excitement as they prepare to commence undergraduate courses at a number of the top universities in the UK and beyond. UCS pupils, guided by bespoke and expert advice from the UCS Sixth Form’s Higher Education Team, are supported to select and attain places on courses that play to their strengths and passions. This year these include Experimental Psychology at Oxford, Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge and Physics with Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London. Further afield, UCS pupils are heading to prestigious American institutions including Harvard, Berkeley and Chicago.
There is also joy to be found in the individual achievements of this outstanding year group. One such individual is Alia Ahmed who leaves UCS to study Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School having secured A*s in Economics, Maths and Biology and an A in Chemistry. Alia effused: “I am so surprised and delighted! I spent a long time deciding with the Higher Education Team which courses to apply for and am so excited about the course at Brighton and Sussex. I’ll be working in a hospital with patients from year one!”
Charlie Tyler is also going on to study Medicine and looking forward to starting his course at Leeds following his experience working in the Covid vaccination programme. Today Charlie was awarded straight A* grades in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and the Extended Project Qualification and commented, “I’m overwhelmed and surprised. Just really, really happy. Since working on the vaccination programme I’ve got a taste of what it feels like to work in a healthcare setting. People of all ages and walks of life have come in and asked me questions and I’m just so excited to get started on the course.”
Anjali Cheung also spoke of her relief and delight this morning upon collecting her straight A* grades in Psychology, Maths, Spanish and the Extended Project Qualification. Anjali will soon begin her undergraduate studies at Oxford in Experimental Psychology. When reflecting on her A Levels and looking towards her degree, Anjali said, “Teachers here are so engaging and teach topics that stretch you beyond the specification. I’m looking forward to the further freedom and breadth of study at Oxford with so many choices of what to study.”
Similarly excited about starting his course is Seth Williams who will be studying History at the London School of Economics. Having gained A*s in Greek and Latin and a D3 in History, Seth explained which aspects of the course and university study he is most looking forward to: “The course at LSE is so broad and theme-based as well as international in its focus. I’m excited to specialise as the course goes on and also to take advantage of the free credits to try new things. I’m thinking of learning Russian!”
