There were smiles, hugs and a few relieved tears at Elthorne Park High School Sixth Form as students picked up their A-level results on Thursday (13 August).
As a heatwave gripped the capital and temperatures were forecast to reach 37°C, students gathered to collect their grades, check UCAS and celebrate securing university places.
You can read what some of them told us below, and see a gallery of some photos at the bottom of the story.
And come back to Around Ealing website tomorrow to see more results and reaction from schools and colleges across the borough, as they become available.
Legal route and London’s calling
Among those celebrating was Yousuf Ismail, 18, who achieved an A* and 2 As and is heading to Cambridge University to study law.
“I had to do an interview and an exam,” he said. “The interview was alright. They didn’t expect too much of an understanding of law at this stage. They were very accommodating. I checked UCAS this morning and these results are about what I was hoping for. I’m quite happy with this. I am very surprised I got an A* in maths.”
Shanan Johal, 18, achieved 2 A*s and an A in biology, chemistry and religious education and is set to study at University College London to become a pharmacist.
“I am very happy with my results. It was what I was expecting,” she said. “I really liked science. I always knew I wanted to do something technical. I did some work experience in a hospital and would like to go into healthcare. It’s such a caring profession.”
She added: “My mum was expecting it all along. She wasn’t that surprised, but she was very happy.”
Brighton, economics and engineering
Future film student Gino Donaldson, 18, achieved A*, A and A grades in sociology, politics and film studies and is heading to the University of Sussex.
“I did really well. I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “I always thought I would be a B student, so I was really surprised. I worked hard, but never thought I would get these grades. I’m still going to Sussex. I’ve always wanted to live in Brighton.”
Luca Alfano, 18, achieved 2 A*s this year, adding to the A* in maths he secured last year after taking the qualification a year early. He is heading to the University of Bath to study Economics.
“It was a lot of hard work,” he said. “The 2 or 3 months before my A-level exams were particularly intense. I visited Bath last April. It’s a lovely town and a great campus. I’m excited to study an interesting course. One of my best friends will be going there too.”
Freddie Gerrard was celebrating 3 A*s and a place studying mechanical engineering at the University of Sheffield.
“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” he said. “It looks really good.”
Sporting chance
Meanwhile, Finty Gavin, 18, achieved 2 As and an A* in PE, geography and psychology and hopes to study sport and exercise science.
“It was much better than I was expecting,” she said.
Finty hopes to pursue a career in elite sport and is aiming for a place at Loughborough University.
“I’d like to do something in high-performance sport,” she said. “It’s one of the best universities in the country, so it would be a great opportunity.”
Her mother added: “She worked really hard for it. It’s well deserved.”
Nursing ambitions
Student Aisha Abdi also celebrated success after completing A-level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care. She is set to study at King’s College London and hopes to become a children’s nurse.
“It was mainly coursework-based, but there were core exams,” she said. “I did relatively well in the exams and tried to focus on the coursework. I’m relieved because I was a bit stressed waiting for the results on UCAS.
“I’ve always wanted to help people, specifically children, and that’s why I want to be a nurse.”
For many students, the celebrations marked the end of years of hard work and the start of a new chapter, with university places now secured and September fast approaching.
