Students around the UK will be receiving their much-anticipated A-level results from 9am on Thursday August 18.
Thousands of 17 and 18-year-olds across west London will today find out if all their hard work and sleepless nights studying for their exams were worth it...
Today, getwestlondon will be bringing you all the latest updates, results and reaction from schools across the area. Our reporters and photographers will be amongst the drama (and emotions), speaking to teenagers, parents and teaching staff as results are released.
We'll also be giving you tips, advice, guidance and information for those who are celebrating receiving their results, to those who may not have achieved what they hoped for.
Stick with us throughout today as we bring you all the live coverage. And, to congratulate someone especially, or to let us know your results, either email emily.chudy@trinitymirror.com or tweet @getwestlondon.
A Level Results 2016
Key Events
Pats on the back all round
We’re going to wrap up our live coverage now on a record breaking day for A Level students gaining university places.
We have published this round-up of the stunning achievements of our students today for you to look through.
As well as the usual standout performers, we’ve heard some crazy tales of success and woe - the story of the Greenford pupil who got A*A*AA and still got turned down by both her universities being my most memorable moment. Unbelievable.
Don’t forget, it’s not too late to go through Clearing to get that uni place, so check out our guide on how that’s done.
For now, enjoy today students, take advantage of that free cheeky Nandos, and behave yourselves as you celebrate tonight!
Second time lucky for Oxbridge's latest recruit
A lesson for others here in that if you work hard and keep trying, you will achieve your dreams.
Timothy Harding has told getwestlondon he never expected to get the grades needed to get into Oxford and even had to have two stabs at his A Levels.
But now the former lifeguard has been buoyed by the news he’s bagged a coveted place at the famous university.
More incredible achievements
As if what we’ve heard so far today wasn’t enough, word from Cranford Community College in Hounslow is that one of its pupils to have gained a university place only arrived in the UK from Yemen in 2006, speaking so little English she didn’t know the alphabet.
Massive congratulations.
The results are in for Villiers High School!
Pupils at Villiers High School are celebrating after scoring record-breaking results in their A Levels.
The school saw:
71% of students achieving A* - C grades, their highest ever tally
37% of students achieving A* - B grades
98% of students achieving A* - E grades
Head of sixth form at Villiers Patrick Cootes said the teachers were just as excited as the pupils at the results.
He said: “We like to think of ourselves as a real tight knit community at Villiers. We may not be as big as some of the other sixth forms or colleges but the sense of spirit and togetherness here is unparalleled.
“These are the best results we have ever had so of course we are pleased.”
The results are in for Feltham Community College
Feltham Community College saw:
98% of students achieving a pass mark
75% of students achieving A* - C grades for A Level and vocational courses
The school reserved a special mention for the following students:
Lukaz Nosal, who secured a place studying maths at the University of Portsmouth
Mominah Naeem, who will read psychology at the University of Roehampton
Madalina Cocis, who will study accounting and finance at the University of Southampton
Ellouise Walker (A* in psychology) who will study business and management at Royal Holloway University
A Level students can claim a FREE meal at Nando's on results day!
For those of you celebrating your results today, there’s a bonus!
For one day only, Nando’s has announced it is giving away a free quarter chicken or Appeteaser to anyone who got their A Level/Higher results.
The only thing students need to do is show up with their results... Why not go along to your nearest Nandos and claim your celebration meal?
The results from St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College are in
St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College in North Kensington saw:
Over 96% of students achieving pass grades
58% of students achieving A* - C grades
100% of BTEC students passing their programme
Over 90% of BTEC students achieving merit or distinction
Principal of the school, Elaine Taylor, said: “Once again the College is delighted with the continued academic success of our students.
“As a college we are blessed with highly motivated staff and students whose hard work and determination have produced excellent results.
“We expect well over 400 students to go to a range of universities with a substantial number going to Russell group institutions.”
Southall student passes all her A Levels despite going partially BLIND during studies
A determined Southall student has defied the odds by achieving all her target A Level grades, despite going partially blind during her studies.
Simran Kaur from Southall’s Villiers High School was advised to take a year off by teachers after losing sight in one eye due to glaucoma, but still took her exams and passed.
She said: “I just thought to myself ‘I’m not going to let this beat me’, I had come so far and I thought I wasn’t going to give up.”
The results from Haydon School Sixth Form are in!
Haydon School Sixth Form saw:
27% of students achieving A* - A grades in A Level and BTEC
49% of students achieving A* - B grades
Georgia Chataway, head of sixth form, said: “Many of our students will be going on to study at top ranking institutions such as Imperial College, Exeter, Durham and UCL having achieved exceptionally high grades in their chosen subjects.
“There are also a number of students who have secured impressive apprenticeship schemes with TFL, Royal Mail and National Rail to name a few.
“We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish all Haydon School alumni the best for their future.”
Read our story about a Greenford student, who got straight A*s and As... But STILL missed out on university place
Batool Alharahsheh, who secured an amazing two A*’s and two A’s at Villiers High School in Southall, is currently going through the Clearing process after missing out on her chosen universities!
Are you going through the Clearing process today? Here are our top tips for securing a university place.
UWL tells students vital information they might not know about clearing
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Woodman of UWL spoke to getwestlondon today as their clearing process began to reassure students of how different things have become for clearing now.
“I think the biggest change that has happened is the fact that number of students at universities aren’t capped anymore, so it’s a far calmer process and not an element of rushing.
“There are some courses where there are fixed numbers such as nursing and other courses there are certain number of students due to facilities, but most courses we are able to help students with.”
UWL takes around 2,000 calls during the clearing process - if you’re a student going through clearing, here are some tips and guidance.
Results are in from Heston Community School
Heston Community School saw:
47% of students achieving A* - B grades.
Acting Headteacher, Ranjit Berdesha, said: “I would like to congratulate all our students, their families and staff on the outstanding results achieved this year. This success is the result of the commitment, hard work and partnership between staff and students.
“I hope our students enjoy a well-deserved break as they prepare for the next big step in their lives, confident that they are equipped to meet the challenges of adult life.”
"It’s a joyful moment and I’m really delighted for the students"
Principle Michael Ribton from Ark Burlington Danes Academy said: “This year we’ve almost doubled the size of our sixth form. The results in proportion are the same year on year.
“We’re still providing the same quality of education which is key. It’s all about making sure students are on the right pathway from the beginning of Year 12.”
Mr Ribton said: “We’ve done well in maths this year and I’m delighted to get a student into Oxford to do Fine Arts.
“It’s always a nerve-racking time for me. This is the culmination of two years of hard work, maybe more. Results day is one of the few things we don’t have control over.
“But it’s a joyful moment and I’m really delighted for the students here that have got the grades they need.
“Many of our students are the first in their family to go to university and that’s great.”
The results are in from Gunnersbury Catholic School!
Gunnersbury Catholic School in Brentford saw:
90% of students achieving A* - C grades
33% of students achieving A* - A grades
20 students achieving three or more A* or A grades.
Headteacher Kevin Burke said: “The talents and hard work of our senior students, supported by their families and our teachers, have once again realised tremendous success. We are proud of every one of our young men and women receiving their results today.”
Amazing results from Ark Burlington Danes Academy
Mabast Hussein achieved two A*’s and one A in his A Levels.
Mabast is hoping to get to the 2024 Olympic Games for Brazilian Jujitsu.
He said: “I am happy with my results, but I wanted three A*’s! I’m happy that I got into my first choice university. I’ll study theoretical physics at Imperial.”
How will you be celebrating your A Level results today?
Share your celebrations by Tweeting @getwestlondon!
The results are in for Portland Place School!
Portland Place School saw their best ever A Level results this year, with:
100% pass rate
38% of students achieving A* - A grades
66% of students achieving A* - B grades
89% of students achieving A* - C grades
An 18% increase on last year’s grades
Headmaster, David Hyman said “These excellent results are a testament to the hard work and application of students as well as the excellent teaching and dedication of their teachers. We wish all our students every success in their plans for the future.
“We are pleased that the majority of students are able to take up their chosen university places for September.”
10 types of people you'll definitely bump into on A Level results day
How many of these results day characters did YOU bump into today?
"Outstanding" A Level results from Nower Hill High School
Nower Hill High School saw:
53% of students achieving A* - B at A2
28% of students achieving A* - A at A2
98% of students achieving A* - E at A2
Chris Livesey, headteacher of the school, said: “We are delighted to report another year of outstanding A level results at Nower Hill High School, with almost one in three grades at either A* or A.
“The students have produced an excellent achievement and no doubt they would want to join me in thanking their teachers and other members of staff for all the hard work that has gone in to teaching them and preparing them for their examinations.
“We’re very proud of all our students and we wish them success and happiness in their future studies and careers.”
WATCH as Ark Burlington students open their envelopes
Reporter Goolistan Cooper was at Ark Burlington where he spoke to Suhayb Hirsi, who got 3 A*’s and an A. When he came to England from Somalia in 2007, he couldn’t speak any English. He said: “I will call my family back in Somalia and tell them my results. I think they will be very pleased.”
Meanwhile, Mabast Hussein got 2 A*’s and one A and said: “I want to be in the 2024 Olympics doing Brazilian jujitsu. I’m happy that I got into my first choice of university to study theoretical physics and imperial.”
The results are in from JFS School in Harrow
JFS School in Harrow saw:
81% of students achieving A* - B grades
60 students achieving A* - A grades in three A Levels
15 students achieving places in Oxford and Cambridge universities
100% of students achieving A* - A in the CACHE course
80% of students achieving double distinctions in the new Hospitality and Catering course
The results are in from Chelsea Academy
Chelsea Academy saw:
81% of students achieving A* - C grades
50% of students achieving A* - B grades
46% of languages grades at A* - A
Assistant Principal of Post 16, Holly Power, said: “I am extremely proud of this year group. Their results are a credit to them, their families and the staff at Chelsea Academy.
“Some of our students have managed to overcome extremely difficult personal circumstances to achieve an outstanding set of results. This is due to their own hard work and the support and guidance given to them by the Academy staff. We wish them every success for their future.”
Notting Hill and Ealing High School celebrate with bubbly after getting top grades
West London schools certainly know how to celebrate! Reporter David Rivers was at Notting Hill and Ealing Hill School where pupils got some of the best grades in the country.
Deepa Lalwani who collected her results and got two A*’s, in French and English and an A in History said: “It’s better than I thought! I’m going to Exeter University to study English Literature”.
Ellie McKay was equally delighted with her results after getting an A in maths and B’s in Psychology and music. She told getwestlondon: “I’m going to celebrate by drinking a lot!
“I love Leeds, it was my favourite, and I’m going to study Psychology.”
Corinna Cherry meanwhile, got an A* in Maths, A in History and an A in Psychology. She said: “I’m going to celebrate now, going to my friends and then a party in London.” Corinna is off to study History in Bristol.
Katie Miles felt a huge wave of relief after collecting her results and said: “I’m going to a party tonight!” It was awful revising, it was bleak, I couldn’t go out for abut two months and I’m going to Outlook festival in September as a reward.” Katie got three A’s in History, Economics and English Language.
The results are in from The John Lyon School
Students at The John Lyon School in Harrow achieved a 100% pass rate overall.
A quarter of all students achieved three or more A grades.
Across the year group, 42% of all grades were at A* or A. 16 boys achieved an A* or A across all of their subjects. 19 boys achieved one or more A* grades.
Boys at The John Lyon School are going on to study a broad range of subjects including Medicine, Neuroscience, Aviation, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Law, Economics and Astrophysics at a range of prestigious Universities including KCL, UCL, LSE, Durham, Warwick, Bristol, Brunel and Manchester.
Some excellent results from Abbotsfield School for Boys!
Students at Abbotsfield School for Boys managed to achieve a 100% A Level pass rate... Well done!
Students at Mo Farah's former place of study, Isleworth and Syon School, get their results
Pictured celebrating are Isleworth and Syon School students Harry Walker, Jason Irvine-Coates, Rachel Rodipe and Lauri Gibson, all of whom gained a triple BTEC Distinction* in their development, coaching and fitness extended diploma.
Isleworth and Syon school is known for being Mo Farah’s former place of study, and this year students upheld its reputation for sporting prowess.
Rachel Rodipe was nominated for the national BTEC Student of the Year award, in which she was highly commended.
Rachel, who works at Thistleworth Tennis Club and with disabled children at Redlees Play Centre, won a place at Brunel University studying physical education.
She aims to become an athletics teacher or coach, a career goal she says was inspired by her own teachers, whom she describes as “the best ever”.
She says she and her peers will be watching Mo when he tries to cement his place in Olympic history by completing the 5,000m and 10,000m double double in Rio this weekend.
She said: “It’s quite cool seeing Mo on TV and realising he used to live and study where I do. Good luck to him in the 5,000m.”
Jason Irvine-Coates’ success is a shining example that you should never give up, however bleak your prospects appear.
He went from “failing to not having a grade to getting the best grade possible” in a matter of weeks.
In a late burst of which Mo himself would be proud, he said he spent the last two weeks sitting in school studying for four hours every day after the last bell had rung.
He thanked his “amazing” teachers for helping him over the finishing line, adding “it was a long dash but I made it”.
The University of West London's Clearing hotline is open
Didn’t quite get the grades you needed?
Clearing places are on offer at universities throughout the UK... And the University of West London’s Clearing hotline is open!
Check out our guide to Clearing if you’re not quite sure what to do.
Results are in from Ark Burlington Danes Academy
Ark Burlington Danes Academy saw:
50% of pupils achieving A* - B grades
75% of pupils achieving A* - C grades
23 A*’s awarded to students
60% of B-Tech students achieving the equivalent of triple A* grades
Brilliant results from Uxbridge High School!
Uxbridge High School saw:
98% of pupils achieving A* - E grades (or equivalent)
40% of pupils achieving A* - B grades
Art saw an incredible 100% of pupils achieving A* - B
Headteacher of Uxbridge High School's message to students
Headteacher of Uxbridge High School Nigel Clemens recorded a message of good luck to all students at the school.
He said: “Congratulations to all students at Uxbridge High School... Some really outstanding grades between you, very well done.”
