Exam Special 2020

Students show off their GCSE grades on results day.

Top grades send students on to leading universities AFTER an incredibly difficult year students at represents a 13 percent increase from last showed remarkable resilience as year. A number of subjects achieved more they collected their exam results. than 85 percent grades 9-4, including Spanish, EZRA A REAL STAR Both GCSE and A-Level students faced Computing, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Art, an anxious summer before it was finally Drama, Music, Business, PE, Textiles and Food THE sky’s not the limit for one announced results would be calculated using Technology. Hackney teenager who hopes to study centre-assessed grades. Headteacher Ms Emmerson said: “Students astronomy after scoring an incredible At A-Level, students achieved top grades to worked incredibly hard and have shown nine grade 9s at GCSE. confirm their places at the country’s very best remarkable resilience in the face of a very Ezra will now reach for the stars as universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, challenging year. he plans to take A-Levels in Physics, UCL and Bristol. “We are pleased that the government Biology, Maths and Psychology. Just under half of all qualifications awarded made the right decision to uphold the centre- He said: “It’s just something that to students were the top A*-B grades, with assessed grades, so that students achieve the really fascinates me, learning about a 97 percent pass rate overall meaning the qualifications they deserve. how we came to be and while we only vast majority won places at their chosen “We wish our students leaving our sixth did a little at school I enjoyed it. I university. form the very best in their next stage and only really discovered my interest in At GCSE, 72 percent of students achieved look forward to welcoming back our Year 11 astronomy a few years ago.” a good pass in both English and Maths, which students into the sixth form.” Hal’s Austrian fascination paid off with Reyhannisa thanks Oxford place A NICHE topic covering the lead-up ‘amazing’ teachers events of World War One helped a young Haggerston historian gain a place at TALENTED student Reyhannisa insisted the to go to Oxford or Cambridge – before I even Oxford University. “amazing” teachers at Haggerston helped her knew what university was!” Hal’s childhood fascination with achieve her childhood of dream of going to Head of Science Ms McGarry said: “The Austrian history from the period 1815- Cambridge. pressure the students are under is always great 1980 came in handy when writing his She scored A* grades in Maths and but especially this year, for me as her Biology personal statement and during his Chemistry, and As in Spanish and Biology teacher, she deserved an A* – especially as it’s interviews for Pembroke College. to secure her place at College, what she achieved in her mock exam. He scored straight A* grades in History Cambridge, to read Natural Sciences. “Reyhannisa is so hard-working but very and Maths with a B in English Literature She said: “It’s the teachers that really got humble; It’s so important to celebrate girls to secure his place to study History in me through, They have been amazing. I have in science and it’s something I am passionate September. always loved learning and enjoyed my GCSEs about. Hal explained: “I basically said the but A-Levels have been so hard. “It’s difficult to put into words how proud I Austrian General Franz Conrad Von “I was thrilled when I found out I had been am. Hötzendorf was a moron and the accepted. I remember leaving the interview “She is a dream student and passionate about professor interviewing me at Oxford crying, thinking I had messed up. science and a real team player helping her started out laughing. “I always knew as a little girl that I wanted fellow students.” “I thought he may have started a world war but he has also got me into university. I never thought my childhood Students chat interest in Austrian history would come with headteacher in so handy.” Ms Emmerson on Hal decided to apply following a GCSE results day chat with a lawyer he met with while attending a mentoring programme arranged by the school. He said: “We were just chatting and he said to me, ‘I went to Oxford, you should too’, so I said ‘Okay then!’” Hal added: “If it was not for the programme the school arranged, I probably would not have had the conversation and probably would not have applied for Oxford. “A lot of the time it is about believing you can do it. Speaking to the lawyer and getting the confidence to apply was half the battle.”

2 Exam Special 2020 Fatim builds A bright future

A BUDDING architect is following her dream to build brilliant social housing after winning a place at University College London. Fatim has chosen the subject to study at university because it combined her love of art and the sciences. The intelligent pupil worked hard to achieve A* grades in Art and Physics, with an A in Maths. She said: “I feel completely overwhelmed as it was quite stressful. I’m pleased Mahmud’s with my grades. “Architecture is not really a popular subject so I had to do a lot of on top form independent research, which I think was beneficial. BRIGHT Mahmud says he felt “The school really helped me “physically sick” in the days before though and encouraged me to sign the GCSE results arrived – but he up for things. I cannot thank them need not have worried. enough for all the support provided.” He was awarded a stunning nine She added: “I really want to work grade 9s and two grade 8s to be with social housing as I think anyone among the top scorers in the entire that’s less well-off should be able school. to live in good homes. It’s good for He said. “I felt physically sick. But society.” I felt so much better when I opened my results.” Oleanna’s animation dream AS a child, Oleanna remembers the emotional connection she felt while listening to the film scores of animated movies. Now, after achieving an incredible one A* and six grade 9s at GCSE, Oleanna is a step closer to realising her dream of a career in animation. She has been awarded a scholarship and bursary to study A-Levels in Art, Psychology and English Literature at Blackheath. She said: “I love the way animation makes me feel and I thought if I could do something to make people feel the same way I do, then that would be the coolest job in the world. “I can’t imagine myself staying in and I want to study in America. “I really want to explore the world. I’m really inspired by Studio Ghibli, which is based in Tokyo.” The results are welcome news for the young artist, who says teaching staff have been very helpful. She said: “They have been very supportive and I am glad I came to Haggerston.”

Exam Special 2020 3 A BUDDING young actor had to pick between two of the most prestigious drama schools in the country. Now all the world’s Akim has accepted an offer from Bristol Old Vic – having also made the grade for the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). a stage for Akim He was offered a place on degree courses after “Much of my success has engaging to watch but is impressing during an been down to the school’s always looking to improve audition via online app drama department. It his craft and welcomes Zoom in June – and was them who took me to feedback. I am just so then scored the results to meet Wendell in Death of a happy that he has got this confirm his place. Salesman. amazing opportunity.” Akim was among a “None of this would group of students who met have been possible The Wire actor Wendell without the teachers Pierce backstage after he at Haggerston had been performing in spurring me on Arthur Miller’s Death of a every day. Salesman last summer in “They have the West End. helped me The American star to find a visited the school last love and December, giving a talk passion for and getting behind the drama, to drum kit to jam with the be myself, student jazz band. to discover Akim say Pierce’s talk myself of being a BAME actor and create in a predominately white a place industry inspired him. where my He said: “I met Wendell imagination backstage and he then could come came to the school to give to life and I could a talk. I want to be a stage learn.” actor as it’s where you Drama teacher Casey learn: different audiences Powell says the LAMDA each night and nowhere to must have spotted the hide as it’s live.” same magic in Akim when Akim also thanked they shortlisted him. his drama teachers at She said: “He has always for shown his ability as a their support. He added: performer and he is really Talented Zelia chases a future in diplomacy

AS a child arriving in London from shocked when I got into King’s and Portugal, Zelia could barely speak my mum cried when I told her my English – yet seven years later she grades. achieved top grades to win a place at “My mum works as a cleaner and prestigious King’s College. my parents wanted to come to London Her grades of A* in Spanish and as they thought we would have more Philosophy plus a B in Sociology opportunities here. were enough to gain a place at the “I chose my degree subject as world-renowned university to study I thought I could learn a lot about War History. security – I’m always watching the Zelia thanked her parents for news to learn, too. making sacrifices to support their “Haggerston School staff have been daughter achieve her ambition of very supportive, especially Spanish becoming a diplomat. teacher Mr Johnson. I struggled with She said: “My younger sister timing in my exams and he really doesn’t speak Portuguese. I try to helped me find ways to make it teach her at home though. I was easier.”

4 Exam Special 2020