All three Harris Federation sixth forms in Southwark are celebrating exceptional results this year.
At Harris Academy Bermondsey, a third of students have places at prestigious Russell Group universities – nearly three times the national average – including Oxford, LSE and King’s.
These include Basmala Saad, pictured, who has a place for History at Merton College, University of Oxford. Basmala said: “I’m excited! I’m pleased with all of the opportunities that lie ahead in the future. I am proud that the environment at Harris Academy Bermondsey has allowed me to become the student that I am today.
“I have been able to develop who I am as a student and as a scholar. I have enjoyed using the library for research and reading. I am grateful for the balance between how warm the school is and how diligent and studious the environment is.”
At Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich (HGAED), students have places at King’s for courses including Medicine, Midwifery and Nursing, at St George’s for Biomedical Science, and at Queen Mary for Mechanical Engineering as well as History.
Summayah Ansari is one of several students in her year group who are off to King’s College London. Her degree will be in Neuroscience and Psychology. Summayah said, “After a challenging two years, I’m incredibly proud that my hard work has paid off and I’m excited for the future”.
Principal of the academy Carrie Senior said: “I could not be more proud of this cohort of young people. They have demonstrated incredible resilience and to have performed as they have makes me so profoundly impressed.
“We at HGAED wish them the very best for the future. Congratulations to them all and a huge thank you to the teaching and pastoral staff and all our families who supported this cohort so phenomenally through the challenges of the last few years.”
At Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich, nine in ten Cambridge Technical qualifications, known as CTECs (and the equivalent of BTECs but with a different exam board), in ICT and Sport were awarded the top Distinction or Distinction* grades. A quarter of A Level Economists at the academy achieved an A or A*.
The students celebrating include Dawood Tariq who has won a coveted place on Credit Suisse’s Degree Apprenticeship scheme. This will enable him to get a head start in a career whilst also gaining a full degree in the process.
Sam Anyijiobi, pictured with Principal Chris Brett, has A Levels in Economics and Physics and a Distinction in his Sport and is looking forward to taking up his place at Nottingham Trent University for Accounting and Finance.
Chris Brett, Head of Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich, said: “Despite all the challenges thrown at these students, they have shown great resilience to achieve some amazing results.
“Now on course to take up a whole range of competitive university places and apprenticeship schemes, they have good reason to be optimistic and excited about their futures.”