Putney Sixth Formers Defy Tougher Marking Regime

Top university places achieved with some excellent results

Chevonne Bailey reacts to her exam results

August 18, 2023

Students in schools across Putney have defied a tougher marking regime this year and delivered some excellent results for A Levels and Level 3 vocational exams.

There was a sharp fall in the number of top grades awarded across England due to the government’s desire to bring pass rates back to what they were pre-pandemic. That did not prevent many local students achieving excellent grades.

For most Year 13 students, this was their first experience with formal exams as they did not sit formal GCSEs in 2021 due to the pandemic.

There were a number of impressive performances at Ark Putney Academy and many students will be going to top universities with the support of bursaries. After achieving AAB grades in English Literature, Sociology and Psychology, Chevonne Bailey will study Psychology at the University of Manchester. As the eldest of four, she's the first person in her family to attend university. She wants to be a clinical psychologist to help diversify the sector and improve outcomes for black communities. Chevonne is Head Student and has held other roles including running the sixth-form book club. She's is also a Marshall Wace bursary recipient. “I would like to thank my grandma for staying by my side throughout the whole process of A-levels.”

Jazib Muslim is heading to the University of Leicester to study Medical Genetics after taking exams in Chemistry, Maths and Biology and achieving a Distinction grade in Extended Certificate Sports Science. He's on the student council and has held house captain and sports team captain roles. Jazib will be the first in his family to attend a UK university, and he's also a Marshall Wace bursary awardee. He says, “I am feeling very, very excited, I can’t quite believe I'm going to university.”



Jazib Muslim and his proud mother

In Summer of 2021 the school first shared the successes of Danyal Khan’s GCSE results as the highest in the year group. During sixth form Danyal has given up much of his time to mentor and provide classroom support to younger students across maths and science subjects. He now celebrates A*A*A* in Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths and is off to study Maths at Warwick University. Danyal says “I would really like to thank all my teachers who really helped me with my exam skills and prepping. I am so looking forward to University and I can’t wait to start my next chapter!”

Danyal Khan opening his results

Media, History and Psychology student Karina Mirzinkeviciute achieved A*, A, A respectively and will be taking a place at City University to study Media, Communications and Sociology. She said, “I would like to thank all my teachers for the excellent resources, as well as my careers advisor who gave me great guidance on choosing the right subjects and finding me work experience. I’m so excited to start the course, discover new creative outlets and independence.”


Karina with her exams

Idman Salad  has secured her place at City University to study Nursing following Geography, Psychology and Sociology A Levels. Idman has been a peer mentor for younger students and volunteered at a local hospital for neuro-divergent patients, where she gained practical experience in supporting others. She'll receive a Marshall Wace bursary. She says, “I come from a family of female health professionals and feel really passionate about working to support the NHS. I can’t wait to start my course and placements.”

After gaining grade DDM in BTEC Creative Digital Media and an A level in Art, Ruben Chandler will study Interior Architecture at Brighton University. During Year 12 enrichment last year, Ruben was part of the school marketing group, supporting with photography and the production of the termly newsletter. He'll receive a Marshall Wace bursary. He said, “I would like to thank my teacher for really pushing me – she has been a star. Without the support I wouldn’t have achieved what I have. I am now really excited to transfer my artistic skills to something practical and build my career.”

Paul Wordie has been a student at Ark Putney since Year 7, accessing its bespoke nurture curriculum during secondary school, designed to support students with special educational needs. At GCSE Paul exceeded his target grades by as many as two grades higher than predicted. Today he celebrates a DMM and a place on a University of the Arts Art Foundation Diploma course. He says, “I’m thankful for the support I have received since Year 7. I really feel that staff have invested the time in me, and this has enabled me to build my confidence and access a course I love. I am really excited about continuing on into higher education.”

Principal Alison Downey said, “Today we are celebrating the efforts of all students in our diverse and inclusive sixth form. Many of our students have overcome personal challenges and difficulties to achieve their goals and as a consequence we have a record number of students who will be starting courses at top third universities. Well done to all!”

At Putney High School, as usual, girls will be heading off to leading universities in the UK and around the world some with prestigious scholarships. Places have been obtained on courses from Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge and Climate Science at Durham to Fashion Design at Ravensbourne.

Nearly a third of the A Levels grades this year were at A* with two-thirds at A* or A and 87% at A* to B. A fifth of the year group managed a clean sweep of at least three A* grades.

Students are heading to Oxford and Cambridge Universities to study courses as diverse as Veterinary Medicine, Natural Sciences and History at Cambridge, and Chemistry, English, History and Biology at Oxford.

Other girls will begin the study of Medicine at universities including Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Manchester. Putney’s Head Student, Ikram Nur - who joined the school on a bursary in Year 12 – will study Medicine at St George’s, University of London.

Ikram Nur

She said, “I started thinking about studying Medicine in Year 11 and signed up for Putney’s Medical Society. I was encouraged to volunteer and get some work experience which really helped me decide I wanted to become a doctor.”

Putney’s would-be medics will take up courses to study Medicine at universities including Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Manchester.

Five students head to the USA or Canada including Niamh Comerford, fresh from her gold winning performance with the U19 team in the Rowing World Championships this summer. She takes up a rowing scholarship at Duke University. Other US destinations include Tufts, Universities of Southern California and Virginia, and McGill University, Canada.

World Champion Rower wins US scholarship

Also overseas, Allegra Galli-Zugaro has a scholarship to IE University in Madrid to study Design and Business Administration.

Allegra Galli-Zugaro

Creative arts destinations include places for Film Production at Arts University Bournemouth, Fashion at both Salford and Ravensbourne and Writing for Performance at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, as well as Product and Industrial Design at the University of the Arts London and a place at the Royal College of Music.

Holly Dulieu going to Cambridge University to study Veterinary Medicine

Acting Headmistress, Heidi Armstrong said, “Despite the national doom-mongering, these A level results have shown what a fantastically accomplished year group this is, not only in their studies but just as importantly, in their lives beyond school where they have proved themselves to be interested, interesting and generally wonderfully rounded individuals.

“Our Class of 2023 have among them several GB sports women, (including a newly crowned World Champion in rowing and a European champion in lacrosse!), acclaimed writers, talented musicians and designers to name but some. I have been continually impressed by the commitment and strength of character they have shown in combining their academics with their activities outside of school, clearly with extraordinary success.

“I am delighted that their chosen courses reflect their amazingly eclectic interests and that in Putney’s typically intrepid spirit their adventures will now include studying at universities overseas.

“I would very much like to thank their parents, their teachers and all those at Putney High School who have worked so hard over the last two years to support and guide them. Congratulations to them all!”

Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg offered his congratulations to students across the borough for their hard work and dedication.

He said, “Thousands of young people across Wandsworth are celebrating their exam successes and they deserve all the credit they get.

“These students were among those most badly affected by the pandemic and the disruption it caused to their education so to have achieved good results speaks volumes about their talents and their ambitions.

“Many will now be planning ahead to go to university, taking up training places or apprenticeships or looking to secure their first job. Whatever they choose to do next I’d like to offer them my sincere best wishes for the future.

“And of course congratulations are also due to the school leaders, teachers and support staff for their passion and commitment and for working so hard in delivering such good results. I’d like to give them huge thanks for their efforts and their dedication.”