Students across Barking and Dagenham are set to receive their A level, BTEC and T Level results today, August 18 – and we will be updating results from all schools and colleges as they come in.
Overall, A Level grades are down on the past two years, though they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The drop was expected as exams were held for the first time since 2019, with a number of adaptations, including advance notice of some topics, to mitigate lost learning during the pandemic.
Students will begin receiving their results from 8am, but universities will already know grades and will be on hand for students with any queries.
For those who do not get the grades they hoped for and need to consider other options, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) chief executive Clare Marchant said there are more than 27,000 courses in clearing, as well as a range of apprenticeship opportunities available.
She said: “While many will be celebrating today, there will be some who are disappointed.
“My advice is to take advantage of the wide range of choices on offer, which includes over 27,000 courses in clearing, along with a range of apprenticeship opportunities.”
Students can visit ucas.com to see their options or speak to a UCAS adviser on the phone or social media.
Let us know your results and stories at londonlive@archant.co.uk
Borough's provisional results
Just less than 80 per cent of Barking and Dagenham students achieved A* to C A-level grades, the council said.
A spokesperson revealed provisional data also indicated that almost a quarter of students got A* and A grades and more than half achieved A*-B grades.
Results were collected on Thursday (August 18) and come from the first A-level exams taken since 2019.
They were the first formal exams this group of students had taken since Year 6, following the cancellation of GCSE exams due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cllr Elizabeth Kangethe, cabinet member for educational attainment and school improvement, said the students had faced "remarkable challenges".
She added: "We’re really proud of all of the effort and hard work they’ve put into these brilliant grades.
“Some of the best universities in the world and some of the most successful businesses will be welcoming students from our borough and I think that goes to show that we’re giving our young people the best start in life here in Barking and Dagenham."
Roger Leighton, Association of School and College Leaders representative for the borough, described the results as "particularly pleasing".
East London Institute of Technology
One student at East London Institute of Technology picked up his BTEC results after working with global media companies during his course.
Demar Bellamy-Foster, 21, from Ilford, was one of more than 300 students to open his results there on Thursday (August 18).
He received merits for his media BTEC, which included working with crews on Amazon, Apple and Netflix productions.
The institute, which launched in 2021 on Barking and Dagenham College's Rush Green campus, said it is purpose-built for advanced technologies.
Demar said he loved his time at college and is now looking to go into film and TV production.
Keytrin Gyumova, 19, achieved D*D*D* for her BTEC in creative media practice (games art and animation).
She is now headed for Bournemouth University to study graphic design.
Keytrin added: “I can’t describe how I’m feeling. I put so much effort into getting the grades I needed."
Games art and animation student, Anita Ededjo-Joseph, 18, from Dagenham, also achieved a D*D*D*.
Anita said: “I feel exhilarated. It’s great knowing my hard work has paid off.”
Last year Anita got paid work experience by creating her own animation for a project commissioned by Pearson, the institute said.
She will now be going to Staffordshire University to study games design on a four-year degree with one year work experience.
Hollie Young, from Chadwell Heath, got a D*DD for her BTEC in photography.
The 18-year-old said: “I feel so good about my results and excited about the future.”
Hollie is doing some freelance photography work and plans to continue her studies onto a Level 4 course.
Jasmine Mustafa, 19, from Dagenham, achieved a D*DD for her media BTEC.
She would like to work her way up in the media industry and said she was "very proud" of her results.
The institute's chief operating officer Jason Turton said: “It’s been a great day, our students have done really well. They should be very proud of themselves.”
Robert Clack School
Five students at Robert Clack School in Dagenham have accepted places at Oxbridge universities.
Among them was Dwayne Affum, who will study mechanical engineering at Oxford after achieving three A*s.
Matthew Deakin (A*AB) was also among a third of the school's students who achieved grades AAB or above.
He will now study accounting, business finance and management in York.
There were 25 students (28pc) who achieved AAA or above and 11 students achieved A*A*A* or above.
The average grade achieved by those getting their vocational qualifications was a distinction and 24 students (41pc) achieved distinction-distinction-distinction or above. Three students achieved all distinction* grades.
Executive headteacher, Russell Taylor, said: “In a climate where university places, employment and apprenticeships are more competitive than ever to secure, it’s an amazing achievement that a record number of pupils will be pursuing their dreams on their chosen pathways in September.
"I would like to thank our magnificent staff for their dedication and commitment to ensuring that our pupils are ready for their next steps.
"After the disruption of the last few years, our pupils should be extremely proud of their achievements."
Eastbury Community School
Seventy per cent of students at Eastbury Community School in Barking achieved A* to C grades.
Eleven students got three A* or A grades when they collected their results on Thursday (August 18).
Barking and Dagenham Council said students are now going on to study a range of subjects, from aerospace engineering and computer science to medicine and biochemistry, at "some of the country’s best higher education institutions".
Benjamin Akinnifesi, who is going to Birmingham University to study physiotherapy, said: “It was tough, and I did try my best.
“I’m very happy with my results. I feel like I put in the work and I deserve what I got.”
Sahibah Karim, who has a place at Warwick University to study history, added: “It was difficult at the start, with lockdown and remote teaching.
“I really put the hours in at home and I’m glad that the work paid off.”
All Saints Catholic School
Dagenham’s All Saints Catholic School sixth form students have returned strong A Level results, with 60 per cent achieving A* to B.
Sophie Lettington was one of those able to secure herself a university place she wanted, getting into York after achieving A*s in politics, biology and history.
William Robinson, with two A*s in computer science and maths and an A in physics, and Nancy Adamawa, who achieved A*s in psychology and biology and an A in chemistry, were also among those who received excellent results.
Headteacher Clare Cantle said: “I would like to congratulate our new generation of alumni for their tenacity, maturity and enthusiasm.
“They have focussed all year, focussed on what they could achieve and maintained a sense of mission.
“We are also delighted that so many of our students have decided to continue their studies at Russell Group universities following years of rigorous study here at All Saints.”
Head of sixth form Steve Bonnar added: “We congratulate each and every student who has been with us on a range of learning pathways who now go on to be the best they can be and we look forward to hearing about their continued success.”
Jo Richardson Community School
Two students from Jo Richardson Community School in Dagenham are going on to global companies after results day.
Timothy Olajide achieved two A*s and one A in his A-levels and is starting a degree apprenticeship in digital technology solutions at investment bank Goldman Sachs.
Oliver Cooney-Allen is also embarking on a degree apprenticeship, in technology, data and innovation at Deutsche Bank.
Other Jo Richardson students are heading to universities across the country, with Lara Cornelius securing a place at the University of Cambridge to study English.
Lucy Burgum, Lyaba Imman, Natasha Prince and Gabija Zundaite achieved the highest possible grade in their BTEC business or CTEC health and social care course, achieving D*D*D*.
Director of sixth form Karen Evans said the school is "incredibly proud" of its year 13 students.
Headteacher Lisa Keane added: “I am delighted to see our students performing exceptionally well across a range of subject areas and qualifications.
"They have worked so hard over the last few years in incredibly challenging circumstances and they deserve all the success they have achieved.”
Riverside School
The headteacher at Barking’s Riverside School has praised the students’ “exceptional” A Level results, which far exceeded their 2019 grades.
The school reported a 100 per cent pass rate, with 75pc of students achieving A* to B.
Those taking the new L3 sport BTEC also passed with an average grade of distinction, and more than 60pc of students gained places at the top 30 universities in the country, such as Oxford, Sheffield and Warwick.
Andrew Roberts, headteacher at the school, said: "This year’s results are exceptional by any year's standards, our young people have endured and overcome the immense challenges of the last three years and excelled. We wish them well in their next exciting phase of life!"
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