TEENAGERS across east London are picking up their A-level results today.

Our reporters and photographers will be heading out to schools to bring updates from picking up their grades.

Waltham Forest

Sir George Monoux saw the number of its A* and A grades increase by almost a third.

Art, biology, business, computing, dance, theatre studies, economics, English and languages were amongst subjects which saw a 100 per cent pass rate.

Over half of all students achieved A* to B grades in business, geography, sociology and world development.

Meanwhile, 100 per cent pass rates were achieved in BTEC subjects including applied science, art, business, dance, IT, media, music and performing arts.

Danny Baalbaki is first student at Walthamstow Academy to win a place at the University of Cambridge, where he will read Middle Eastern studies.

The 18-year-old, who achieved an A* and two As, said: “It’s rejuvenating. I feel as if I can finally breathe. I appreciate my peers and teachers who have stood by me and kept me on track whenever I lost sight.”

Head girl, Molly Cartlidge achieved an A* and two As and will read biomedical sciences at the University of Leeds. 

She said: “I can’t believe my seven years here are finished. I am so grateful to the teachers and my peers who helped me and made my time here so enjoyable.”

Meanwhile, its students achieved the schools highest ever A-level results. The top grades of A* and A rose from seven per cent to 35 per cent in just one year.

Curtis Murray received 3 As and is going to the University of Bristol to read economics and politics.

He said: “To anyone who is nervous about their exams, don’t worry, you’re in safe hands.”

Principal Emma Skae said: “I am so proud of all our students today. They have been a pleasure to teach and a credit to the academy.”

Leyton Sixth Form College said its students had delivered a “gold medal performance” in an Olympic summer, after youngsters achieved an A Level pass rate of 99.5 per cent.

Of some 1,100 A Level subject entries, LSC students only failed to make the grade on six papers.

The college was also celebrating the results of its BTEC students, with 358 youngsters completing an extended diploma and just under half achieving straight distinctions.

Principal, Kevin Watson, said:  “LSC clearly has its fair share of Mo Farahs, Laura Trotts and Usain Bolts”

“As with those star athletes our students are reaping the rewards both of their own hard work and of some expert coaching and support”.

LSC student Sharla Watson-Clarke, who received one A* and two A grades, earned a place at the University of Birmingham to study economics.

She said: “I am really shocked, I am the kind of person who people expect to do well but I always doubt myself.

“I checked UCAS before I got here, so I knew I had done well and I knew I had a place at university, but I did not know what grades I had.

“I ended up with better grades than I needed, so that is really good. The hard work has paid off and I do not think I could have done any better.”

Wanstead and Woodford

Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green will be sending ten pupils to Oxford and Cambridge after 21 pupils achieved three or more A* grades.

The school’s top performer was Peter Andreev, who was awarded six A*s and will go on to read mathematics at Trinity College Cambridge.

In total, 90 per cent of exams taken by Bancroft pupils were graded B or higher, and 66.8 per cent grade A or higher.

The school’s outgoing head teacher, Mary Ireland, said: “I am delighted that so many students have got really positive results allowing them to follow their chosen courses at university. 

“These results are really encouraging and reflect the continuing hard work put in by our teachers as well as the pupils themselves.”

Bancroft’s student Isabelle Ormerod got 4 A*s and is looking forward to studying mechanical engineering at the University of Bristol.

She said: "I was predicted four A*s but I was a bit nervous and there were a couple of exams that were really tough. I am really happy, all the hard work has paid off.”

"I spent the whole of yesterday worrying, I couldn't get to sleep. I don't think it has sunk in yet, but I know not many people manage to achieve what I have done."

Woodbridge High School in Woodford Green enjoyed a 99 per cent A-level pass rate.

A total of 56 per cent of their students achieved A* to B grades, while 23 per cent got A* to A.

Aileen Sartor, who  got three A*s in maths, physics and Russian, and Lydia Watkins, who got an A* in Russian and As in English, geography and history, are both got into Cambridge.

Meanwhile Peaches Johson was awarded a double distinction in art and design, as well as an A in English and a B in history while Anthony Maffei got an A* in Economics and As in French, maths and Russian.

Nine pupils from Forest School in Snaresbrook have secured places at Oxford or Cambridge as dozens of students achieved top results.

Six pupils also earned places at prestigious medical schools, including Imperial College London, University College London and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Almost 80 per cent of grades awarded to Forest pupils were B or higher, with youngsters achieving at least an A grade in over half of exams sat at the school.

Jonathan Mitchell, Deputy Head Academic, said: “With nearly four in every ten pupils earning three or more A* and A grades at A Level, this is another exceptional year for Forest School.

“We are very proud of the commitment and drive of our pupils, and also of the care and support provided by their dedicated teachers.”

“Comfortably more than half of all grades awarded were A* or A, which is a remarkable achievement, and a big improvement on last year.

“However, although we celebrate the growing number of top grades each year, we are most proud of the way that all of Forest’s students worked so hard to achieve the best results they could.

“This kind of grit and determination is the best predictor of the bright futures that now await them.”

Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green sent two pupils to Oxbridge colleges as students achieved a 99 per cent pass rate.

Charlotte Ring will study English and history at Oxford after earning three A*s and one A grade. Joseph Hopper also go to Oxford to read history after receiving one A* and two A grades.

A total of 13 students at the school achieved either three or four grades at A or higher.

Director of Sixth Form, Margaret Keegan, said: “These exam results rank with the best ever for the school.

“Our students have worked extremely hard and we are extremely proud of them. They deserve their success.”

Chingford

Chingford Foundation School achieved a 100 per cent pass rate across the board in all A Level subjects this year.

Of that number, 57 per cent of students achieved only A* to B grades. The school’s results are expected to be well above the national average.

Student Josias Senu achieved two As and one A* at the school and has gained a place to study law at LSE.

He said: "I was worried this morning, I was nervous in case the grade boundaries had gone up too much.

"I was expecting better grades, but I was only a few marks off getting three A*s. But I am into LSE, so I'm not complaining.

“Now I'm looking forward to university and freshers' week and all the academic stuff as well, obviously."

Neil Taylor, senior assistant principal at Chingford Foundation School, said: “We are delighted with the results, which represent some phenomenal hard work by students and the staff supporting them.

“Very many of our students have secured the grades they need for their university courses. We wish them every success going forward.”

Epping Forest

West Hatch High School in Chigwell registered a set of record results, with students at the school achieving a 99.7 per cent A Level pass rate.

Almost 60 per cent of grades awarded to pupils at the school were a B or higher and staff reported results were up significantly across the board from previous years.

Ella Sabine, one A and two Bs earned a place at the University of Southampton to study music.

She said: “I did not expect to do as well as I did. I needed three Bs and I thought I was going to get two Bs and a C.

“I thought ‘whatever happens I do not mind as long as I get into university’, I was just really hoping I did well enough to get in so I am really happy.

“Now I am looking forward to meeting new people and moving away- I am starting my life and it is really exciting.”

Headteacher, Frances Howarth, said: “We are absolutely delighted with these results and so proud of what our students have achieved. 

“All their hard work coupled with excellent teaching from our experienced staff has really paid off. 

“West Hatch continues to provide a very high quality Sixth Form education enabling our students to have the edge and compete with the best.

“We wish our students well as many of them now go off to prestigious universities across the country or take on top jobs and apprenticeships in London”.

Got a story to share? E-mail thomas.barnes@london.newsquest.co.uk or aslater@london.newsquest.co.uk