A level day brings joy for Harrow students

Aug 20 2009 By David Baker

HUNDREDS of students in Harrow nervously opened their A-Level results this morning – hoping to make the grade.

With results already expected to top last year's, making them the best the borough has seen, the Observer caught up with successful pupils around Harrow.

At Nower Hill High School, in George V Avenue, 18-year-old Ahmed Al-Aaraji secured a spot at Manchester University to read Chemical engineering after gaining top marks in Maths, Chemistry and Physics.

He said: "Even though I didn't need three As to get into my choice of university it will make a massive difference. They offered me a scholorship based on those grades which is going to make a massive financial difference for my family.

"I think I still would have gone to uni but it would have been a massive struggle. It's just a weight of the shoulders."

It was a similar result for Chris Smith at Buckingham College whose three As, in biology, chemistry and physics, secured him his place at the Royal Veterinary College, in Camden.

The 18-year-old said: "I’m still in a state of shock, I can’t believe I’m actually going to university. I am just glad that all the hard work has finally paid off, I didn't believe it was possible.

"I think we will celebrate with a family meal of steak chips and of course some champagne."

All in all the private college in Hindes Road Harrow, secured a 98 per cent pass rate with 70 per cent of its students gaining A-Cs.

Similar success was seen at Heathfield School for Girls in Beaulieu Drive, Pinner, and the prestigious Harrow School in High Street, Harrow on the Hill, where 92 per cent and 99 per cent respectively gained A-C grades.

Speaking after yet another succesful set of results Barnaby Lenon, the Headteacher at Harrow School, praised the pupils' hard work and refuted claims exams are easier.

He said: "These are the best results we have ever had despite the fact that many have taken the so called harder subjects like maths, physics and chemistry. This result is a combination of hard working pupils and inspirational teaching.

"Having been a teacher for more than 30 years I can say that any statement that questions in exams are easier today is totally untrue."