Record A-level passes for borough's students

Education bosses at Hammersmith and Fulham Council are still calculating the overall results, but it looks as though the borough is on course to match last year's record of 99.4 per cent passes at grades A to E.

At William Morris Sixth Form in St Dunstan's Road, Barons Court, two prospective medics were celebrating after achieving top grades in all of their subjects.

Aishah Azam, 18, of Croft Gardens in Hanwell, managed an astonishing five As in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and further maths, winning her a fiercely contested place studying medicine at Imperial College London.

"I'm just completely shocked, to be honest," said Aishah. "I never expected it but I did work hard.

"I'm really, really excited and really grateful for all the help I've had along the way.
"Hopefully now I'll become a doctor and help lots of people - I'm just happy I get to go to the university of my choice and do the course I've always wanted to do."

Fellow student Mohammed Mannan, of Elgin Avenue, Shepherd's Bush, also achieved top grades in biology, chemistry, maths and AS-level sociology, but despite being predicted an A in each, he was not offered a place studying medicine.

"For every 100 places there must be 1,000 applications and all of them have the grades - it's just luck," said Mohammed.

"I was very disappointed because I worked so hard, but I'm happy because I've been offered a place at the School of Pharmacy in London. After your degree there are a lot of opportunities which open up."

The sixth form's record 99 per cent pass rate leapt up from 98.2 per cent last year, and the number of A and B grades also climbed from 43 to 44 per cent.

Principal Kevin Gilmartin said: "Our kids are from a huge range of backgrounds - it's not privileged and it's not private school. This is absolutely fantastic."