Camden schools have performed above the national average in this year’s A-level results.

Ham & High: La SWAP student Eva Dalmau. Photo by Justin Thomas .La SWAP student Eva Dalmau. Photo by Justin Thomas . (Image: � 2017 Justin W Thomas)

Celebrations took place across the borough yesterday, as students at the borough’s schools received their A-level results, with 98.1per cent achieving the overall pass rate at A* to E (compared to 97.9pc nationally).

This year’s figures mean that half of all Camden A-level entries were a grade higher than last year, which is a strong result for the borough’s schools.

Among the high achievers was Camden School for Girls student Osman Umuayman, 18, whose family came to the UK as refugees from Somalia. She will be the first in her family to go to university and has a place to study medicine at Cambridge University’s Trinity College.

Cllr Angela Mason CBE, responsible for children, schools and families at Camden Council, was at Haverstock School, in Chalk Farm, where she joined students and the school’s new headteacher, James Hadley, to celebrate their results.

Among the top performing A-level students at Haverstock were Mohammed Miah, who got two A*s and one A; Nadirah Miah, with two As and a B, as well as Deneice McIntosh and Saye Monnan, each of whom gained one A and two Bs in their A-levels.

James Hadley, new headteacher at Haverstock, said: “We are delighted that our students’ hard work has been rewarded. With these fantastic qualifications, combined with the experience that they have gained from our award-winning Haverstock career network, they are fully equipped to be successful in the next stage of their lives.”

Haverstock student Abdisamed Abdi, 18, is off to Brunel University in London to study law. He got three Bs in his A-levels, which were English literature, English language and economics.

Abdisamed, who admitted he had a sleepless night before picking up his results, said he was thrilled to have got into his first choice university after getting three Bs in his A-levels. He said: “Brunel was my firm choice and I’ve wanted to go there for ages.”

Cllr Mason later joined students at Camden School for Girls, where the percentage of A* and A grades was 48pc, up seven per cent from last year. Several students from the school have places at Oxford and Cambridge universities this year.

Among them is Esther Pigney, 18, who will be studying classics at Oxford University after gaining an A* in her Latin A-level and As in classical Greek, English literature and maths.

Cllr Mason said: “Welcome to James Hadley, Haverstock’s new headteacher and congratulations to all Camden students on their impressive achievements, which are against a background of massive changes to the A-level system this year.

“A great deal of credit must also go to their dedicated teachers and supportive parents. Today we have seen some amazing achievements from inspirational young people. Schools across the borough offer students from a very wide range of backgrounds the knowledge, personal skills and experience to help them succeed in whatever they choose to do next – whether that is university, an apprenticeship or a career.”

Meanwhile at LaSWAP, which is the joint sixth form for four Camden secondary schools (Acland Burghley, William Ellis, Parliament Hill and La Sainte Union), top performing students included Jam Byam, 18, of Parliament Hill.

Jam got A* in English literature, A* in film studies and an A in geography. She is going to King’s College London to study English literature. She said: “I decided not to look online to see if my university offer had been accepted and just headed to the school to get my results. But I had to get my close friend to open my envelope and read the results for me. It was such a relief and now I’m ecstatic.”

Another LaSWAP student, Saskia Hern, gained one A*, two As and a B and is off to study biochemistry at Oxford University. Saskia said: “I’m really happy. I was worried I’d miss the A* to get to Oxford. My parents have promised me a takeaway when I get home.”

Eva Dalmau, 18, who lives in Hampstead and attends LaSWAP Sixth Form, gained an A in history, an A in Spanish and a B in religious studies. She is going to Manchester University to study law.

She said: “Having grown up in Spain I started school in England at 16 and initially I struggled to adapt to the English system, but I worked hard and I’m really relieved to get these results and know that my hard work paid off.”

La Sainte Union’s headteacher, Maureen Williams said: “We are delighted with the results and improvements across LaSWAP, especially in the top grades and given the context of grade marks being altered and the more rigorous exams this year. Students and teachers had to work harder to achieve similar grades, so credit is due to all of those involved in this achievement.”

Acland Burghley headteacher Nicholas John added: “The collective experience and knowledge of the four LaSWAP schools means we can handle any changes to national specifications and still deliver excellent grades and progression rates. Our students are going to universities across the country, whether they are our highest performers or those who have secured university places despite the challenges they have faced.”

Young people receiving their results in Camden today are reminded that, in addition to higher education options they may be considering, apprenticeship positions offer opportunities to earn while you learn, get a foot on the career ladder, and some apprentice posts can also lead to a degree.

For more information visit camden.gov.uk/apprenticeships.