Students at Uxbridge College are celebrating a great set of GCSE results.
Dr Darrell DeSouza, Vice Principal for Curriculum and Standards, said: "This year's GCSE results are one more thing to celebrate in an excellent year for Uxbridge College, which included great A level performances last week and our Outstanding Ofsted report in July.
"We have seen strong results in areas including English, Media and ICT, as well as some terrific outcomes for individual students. Some of the greatest achievements are by people who may not have done as well as they wanted to at school, or have had to work on their English language skills, but have blossomed in the college environment.
"We look forward to seeing many of those who have collected their GCSE results this week back in September, either on A level courses or starting vocational qualifications such as BTECs, which provide an alternative route to success, be it going to university or starting their chosen career."
Students at Uxbridge College take their GCSEs in one academic year of eight-nine months teaching time, compared to the two years taken by school pupils, which is why College students normally take a maximum of five subjects compared to around 10 taken in schools.
* Overall pass rate at grades A*-G was 96% - up 2% on the previous year, with pass rate for students at higher grades (A*-C) at 57%.
* 91% of students sitting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) achieved grade A*-C - of those 30% achieved A* or A grade.
* English and Media results saw improvement on 2007 for students gaining grades A*-C, with figures at 78% for English Literature, 62% for English Language, and 79% for Media. These figures represent improvements of between 6-20% on the previous year.
* 100% achievement at A*-C in foreign languages Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Persian, and Urdu.
* Students sat a total of 1,031 GCSEs.
Top performers included:
Malik Burhan-ul-Hassan (17), of Pinglestone Close, Harmondsworth, got A* in Chemistry and Physics, and As in Urdu, English, Maths and Biology.
He said: "I am really, really happy and excited about the future. I worked hard - it's the key to success - but I did not expect such high grades. I am now going to take four A levels at Uxbridge College in Maths and Sciences."
Ilona Swiatowska (17), of Slough, achieved five top grades including an A in English, despite the fact she had arrived from Poland the previous year and virtually had to learn English from scratch. Before starting her GCSEs she completed an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Level 1 at the College, and now achieved A* in ICT, Maths and Chemistry, and As in English and Biology. She will now take A levels at Uxbridge College.
After opening her results on Thursday Ilona said: "There are no words to describe how I am feeling. I expected to fail English and maybe get a C in biology, I cannot believe how well I have done. I was so nervous waiting for the results, I am still shaking now."
Naomi Haysum (17), from Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, achieved A* grades in ICT, History and Biology, and As in English and Maths.
Xavier Kym Guillen (17), from Southall, achieved A* in ICT and Maths, As in Chemistry and Physics, and a B in English.