News
Apply online
Use our online application form to apply for a course. It’s easy to complete and goes straight to our admissions team.
Shoreditch celebrations: Sharp rise in A Level passes at Hackney Community College
Posted 19th August 2010
“I couldn’t have done it without the excellent teaching at the college,” Matthew Macdonald.
There was celebration and congratulation at Hackney Community College as students collected this year’s AS and A Level results.
The pass rate of A Level results at the college increased by 8% on last year, to an impressive 97% in 2010. A-C grades are up 13% from last year, and A-B grades are up 7%.
Between them, this year’s students took 147 A Levels across 13 subjects. The national rise in pass rates this year is just 0.1% so the rise at HCC is particularly striking.
Students achieved 100% pass rates in nine A Level subjects including languages, humanities, business, arts and science subjects. In physics, 83% of students achieved A or B grades. 100% of students studying Turkish and Spanish at AS Level also passed.
BTEC level 3 students at HCC also did very well, with an overall 99.2% pass rate out of 511 entries, with 72% achieving merits or distinctions. 87% of multimedia software and 75% of business studies BTEC students got distinctions in their qualifications.
Salma Begum is very pleased with her results. The 18 year old from Bethnal Green achieved As in Sociology and Psychology and a B in English Language and Literature which was enough to secure her place at City University to study Psychology. Along with studying A levels Salma was also a student ambassador at the College. She said: “ I have really enjoyed the experience at HCC. The atmosphere is very welcoming. The teachers are all helpful, friendly and approachable and the quality of teaching is excellent.”
Anthony Osei-Lawrence, from Tottenham needed an A in Psychology in order to get a place at university and he achieved just that at HCC. The 19 year old will be going on to Leicester University to continue studying Psychology. He said: “ I want to say a huge thank you to all the tutors that supported me through my studies. They really helped me to achieve my goal. I’d definitely recommend anyone to study at HCC as it’s been great!”
Bulgarian sisters Emel, aged 21 and Esen Ali, aged 19 couldn’t speak any English when they arrived in the UK three years ago. They both studied A Level Turkish alongside their BTEC National Diploma in Science. They both gained Distinctions for the first year of their BTEC and Emel secured an A grade in her A Level Turkish and Esen a B grade. They liked that they were able to combine an A level with a BTEC subject as this option isn’t widely available with other colleges.
The girls plan on studying dentistry at university, once they complete their BTEC at HCC next year. They said:“ It was great to be able to do a BTEC and A level subject together. The teachers are very helpful and always take time to explain things clearly for us. We couldn’t have done it without them”. Click here to see what they think about HCC.
Matthew Macdonald, aged 27 from Tottenham is looking forward to studying medicine at Imperial College after achieving an outstanding A* in Biology, along with three As in Chemistry, Maths and Physics at A2 level. He will continue his job as a part-time chef while at university. Click here to see what Matthew has to say about studying at HCC .
Hackney Community College deputy principal Lois Fowler is thrilled at the students’ success: “Our students have worked incredibly hard and have achieved impressive results. At Hackney Community College, we’re dedicated to sustaining the steady improvement that we’ve worked for in recent years. With this year’s sharp leap in A Level and BTEC pass rates and our ‘Good’ Ofsted report, we all have reason to be very proud. I congratulate HCC’s 2010 students, and wish them every success in their progression to university or work.”
Many students discovered their A Level results on the Internet first thing in the morning as the exam boards’ online facilities went live. A large cohort still came to the college’s Shoreditch campus to be with friends and tutors and to take advantage of the college’s advice and support services to make sure they have the best chance of securing their place at university.
The results noted above are as confirmed by the awarding bodies on the morning of 19 August 2010. We are awaiting a few final results.
