
Uxbridge College students who studied for their GCSEs in one year are celebrating after another great set of results.
Higher grade passes (A* - C) have shown an improvement of 8% with a 66% success rate. The overall pass rate at grades A* - G is now 98%, up 1% on the previous year.
Uxbridge College GCSE students sit their exams after one year of study - as opposed to two for school pupils - which is why they usually take around five subjects, compared to 10 at school.
As well as improved success rates in several areas, there were some terrific success stories from individual students.
One family - the Siddiques - had four siblings taking exams at Uxbridge College this year, three at GCSE level and one taking AS papers.
The three picking up their GCSE results were Tuba (age 25) Sheela (age 23) and Abdul Wasi (age 22).
The family came to the UK after their father Latif had been imprisoned by the Taliban, accused of spreading Christian propaganda.
Abdul Wasi achieved A* grades in Maths and Physics and As in English Language, Biology and Chemistry; Tuba got an A* in Chemistry, As in ICT, Maths and Physics and a C in English, and Sheela achieved A grades in ICT and Maths, Bs in Chemistry and Physics, and the top grade in her pre-GCSE studies in English.
Sister Deeba collected her AS Level results the previous week and is now returning to Uxbridge College to complete her second A Level year.
Also showing impressive achievements were:
Jessica Puplett (18), of Harrow, who achieved A* in ICT, English Language, English Literature and Maths and an A in Sociology.
Sarah El-Zahab (18), of Earls Court, W14, who achieved A* in Maths, Chemistry and Arabic, A grades in Biology and Physics, and a B in English Language.
Ramin Azizi (17), of Harrow, achieved A* in Maths, As in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and a C in English Language.
Omar Gheriani (18), of Hayes, who achieved an A* in Chemistry, As in ICT and Physics and Bs in Media Studies and English Language.
Dr Darrell DeSouza, Vice Principal for Curriculum and Standards at Uxbridge College said: "Uxbridge College's great GCSE results for 2010 come hand in hand with the recent news we're now London's best college for educating young people for the fourth year running**. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in all our successes.
"Our strong results are particularly impressive because many students here face additional challenges in their studies. Some may not have done well at school but thrive in the college environment, where they are given all the support they need to take full responsibility for their success. And as English is not the first language spoken by many of our students, we are particularly pleased with our achievements in English Language.
"We are now looking forward to seeing many of our GCSE achievers enrolling on A Levels, BTECs and other courses at Uxbridge College, joining new students from all over West London and beyond."
Facts and figures for GCSE results at Uxbridge College in 2010:
* Overall pass rate at grades A* - G was up 1% on the previous year at 98%, higher grade passes (A* - C) showed an improvement of 8% (66% up from 58%).
* In Information and Communication Technology (ICT) pass rates at grades A* - C stand at 97%, up 4% compared to 2009 - with 77% receiving A* - B grades compared to 73% the previous year.
* English results bettered last year's strong performance with English Language at A* - C - up 5% at 69%.
* 100% achievement at A* - C in foreign languages Arabic, German, Persian, French and Urdu.
** Best College in London for young people claim on the basis of highest success rate for 16-18 year olds 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09.