GCSE successes springboard to further study for Harrow College students

Students celebrating excellent GCSE results at Harrow College in sciences, Maths and English are on their way to further study thanks to their achievements.

At Harrow College, GCSEs are either taught as a full-time one year combined Science programmes, including with an ESOL option, plus Maths and English GCSEs, which are a national curriculum requirement as well as being needed by universities, can also be studied  where needed.

The college, which achieved a 67% pass rate at GCSE grades 9-4 (equivalent to the old A*-C grades) on full-time one-year programmes, offers GCSEs to students who are either doing the exams for the first time or did not fulfill their potential at school

Alka Rai, 19, was Harrow College’s top GCSE achiever this year with grade 9s – equivalent to a high A* grade under the old system – in combined science, a grade 8 (also equivalent to grade A*) in Maths, a 7 (A grade equivalent) in Statistics and a 6 (equivalent to B) in English. She said: “I feel so happy with my grades. I’m especially pleased with my English grade as I didn’t think the exam went too well. I’m looking forward to doing A-Levels at Harrow College in September.”

Alisha Rai, 18, said: “I have passed all of my GCSE exams including a grade 8 and 7 in combined Science which I am really happy about. I feel really pleased that I can now progress to doing a BTEC Applied Science course at Harrow College.”

Wafiullah Obeidi, 17, who got a grade 6 and four grade 5s, said: “I feel ecstatic and relieved. I put a lot of hard work into this which has really paid off. Looking forward to returning to Harrow College in September!”

Anas Bashir, 17, who is progressing on to a Level 3 BTEC course at the college, said: “I’m very happy with my GCSE achievement and excited to now progress at Harrow College. I worked really hard and the teachers were really supportive.”

Ibrahim Soai Ali Haroun, 21, who studied Maths and English alongside a Level 3 vocational qualification, said: “Words cannot describe how absolutely delighted I am. A few years ago I moved to England from Sudan with very little English knowledge. With lots of hard work and support from my amazing teachers at Harrow College, today I have passed my GCSE English!”

Immanuel Kojo Nana Osei, 18, who also took a Level 3 vocational course, said: “I feel very excited. My nerves have turned into absolute joy. I have got a grade 6 in English and grade 5 in Maths which I am really happy about.”

Dr Darrell DeSouza, Principal of HCUC (Harrow College Uxbridge College, the merged college group) said: “I am delighted to see so many students in a position to go on and study at a higher level either at college or beyond thanks to their GCSE achievements at HCUC. As well as the many opportunities that come out of our successful one year full-time GCSE programmes, students who have not yet achieved Maths and English or need to raise their grades in these subjects, can make that essential step to get them into university or other Higher Education programmes.”

Dylan McTaggart, Deputy Principal of HCUC, said: “Across Harrow and Uxbridge it’s thrilling to see so many successful students taking on the next year of their aspirations, carrying the momentum of such high performing GCSE results. Looking across the enrolment hall I can see the innovators, digital disruptors, mathematicians, vocational business owners and university graduates of our futures. Similarly, it’s just great to see the number of students overjoyed to have now achieved their Maths and English GCSEs- well done HCUC students!”