Cambridge University and Medical School places for Uxbridge College A Level students

Top A Level achievements at Uxbridge College this year have included one student achieving four A* grades and winning a place to study maths at Cambridge University, and another on his way to Brighton & Sussex Medical School.

Staff and students are celebrating strong results and some fantastic individual performances, with 40% of students achieving A*-B and 74% A*-C. The overall pass rate at grades A*-E was 98%. AS Level pass rates at Uxbridge College were 81%.

Individual success stories included:

Rumail Azhar is on his way to Cambridge University to study maths after achieving a fantastic set of grades with four A* grades, in Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths. He also had to pass an additional advanced maths exam called STEP with high grades to be admitted to Cambridge.

As he picked up his A Level results Rumail, 19, said: “I have been awake all night, I did not think I had done well enough in the STEP exam or Further Maths A Level and had given up hope of going to Cambridge – so it is a surprise but I am very happy and so are my parents.

“The teaching has been of a high standard – I got lucky with my teachers at Uxbridge College, I didn’t know what it was going to be like being in a new college but everyone’s been very helpful to me, including with my personal statement for UCAS. Maths is a passion for me and a Cambridge offer is life-changing. I want to go on and do a PhD in maths.”

Before studying at Uxbridge College Rumail, who was this year’s top A Level performer at Uxbridge College, lived in Dubai.

Erdi Tewelde, 21, achieved A grades in Biology and Chemistry and a B in Physics, and will be studying Medicine at Brighton & Sussex Medical School. Erdi has been at Uxbridge College for three years, including studying GCSEs, before progressing to A Level. Originally from Eritrea, he has always wanted to become a doctor. He said: “I had family at Uxbridge College and it had a good reputation which is why I chose to come here. It’s been exciting to be in the UK but hard to be away from family – it’s been a tough journey but Uxbridge College has been fantastic in terms of teachers and I have had great support.”

Puneet Grewal, 19, was the second highest performer at Uxbridge College, achieving A* grades in Maths and Further Maths and an A in Chemistry. She is now going to UCL to study maths. She said: “It is hard work that pays off – I really wanted to go to UCL so I am very pleased.”

Yamen Badran, 20, came to the UK from Syria and has now achieved an A* in Maths, an A in Chemistry and a B in Physics and is going to Queen Marys to study Mechanical Engineering. He also took his GCSEs at Uxbridge College. “I am so happy to have got my place – I was so worried about my maths – the exam was awful!”

Emily Harris, 18, got two A grades and a B in English, Politics and Law, and is going to study Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway College, University of London. She said: “I did really badly last year and have had a lot of work to do but it just goes to show you can catch up if you try.”

Uxbridge College students may go on to university, into jobs, to further study at college, or take up the increasingly popular option of an Apprenticeship.

Jack Harris, Head of Uxbridge College Sixth Form Centre, which teaches A Levels, GCSEs and vocational science, said: “A massive congratulations to all our students – the numbers progressing to university are extremely impressive, especially with students going to prestigious universities such at Cambridge and winning places on competitive subjects such as medicine. 

“As well as our strong A Level results, we are also very pleased with our students’ AS Level performance. The majority of educational institutions no longer offer AS Level exams at the end of the first year of A Levels, but we continue to do so as it gives both the learners and their teachers a real indication of progress. It also gives students the opportunity to change course at the end of the first year, if they find that the A Level route is not the right path for them. They will still leave with AS qualifications that carry UCAS points and can be combined with other qualifications such as BTEC to enhance entry to university or employment.

“We would certainly encourage school students receiving GCSEs next week to look at college as an option once they receive their results.”

Dr Darrell DeSouza, Principal of HCUC (Harrow College Uxbridge College, the merged college group), said: “We are extremely pleased with the strong A Level and AS Level results at both Uxbridge College and Harrow College and the many individual success stories. 

“Many of our A Level students and those on equivalent courses do not come from the strongest GCSE backgrounds and it is testament to the quality of the academic and vocational training and education and facilities, as well as the additional support offered here if needed, that they go on to do so well. 

“The successes in science and maths subjects at both colleges, both this year and previously,  pave the way for our exciting new Institute of Technology due to open next year – we are very proud to have been chosen for this as just one of 12 organisations nationally – and for the introduction of the new technical equivalents to A Levels, the T Levels.”