Students at The City Academy, Hackney secure places at Russell Group

Teenagers from The City Academy, Hackney are preparing to embark on the next phase of their education journey after securing places at Russell Group universities.

Ishamel Laurent-Dixon will be off to study engineering at the University of Cambridge.

Francesca Fernandes will be preparing to move to the University of Bristol to read civil engineering.

Also securing his first choice is Mehmet Karatas who will be studying Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Ceren Ulusoy will read Law at Queen Mary University of London and Simranjeet Kaur, will be studying Children’s Nursing at City, University of London.

Mark Malcolm, Principal at The City Academy, Hackney, said:

“This academic year has been exceptionally challenging on all levels not least for our teachers and students, but also for our parents and carers.

“Over the past few months we have all had to find new ways of working, I am proud of the way in which my teachers, staff and pupils quickly adapted.

“Our main focus during lockdown has been to ensure that all our pupils have been and feel supported and we will continue to offer that support for as long as it is needed.”

The City Academy, Hackney, based in Homerton Row, is co-sponsored by the City of London Corporation and KPMG.Ann Holmes, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board, said:

“Over the last few months our teachers and pupils have all had to adjust to new ways of working.

“This has been extremely challenging, but through resilience and dedication they have shown an exceptional response to an unprecedented situation.

“Today’s A-Level results are a reflection of the hard work and effort that our students and teachers have put in throughout the academic year.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every pupil the very best of luck for their future.”

The City of London Corporation sponsors or co-sponsors 10 academies across Hackney, Newham, Islington and Southwark.

In 2017 and 2018, Sutton Trust named the City Corporation as the UK’s best academy sponsor for empowering pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to perform above the national average, and the leading academy sponsor for Progress 8 and Attainment 8, which track pupil progress and achievement.