Ark Putney Pupils Excel at GCSE and A Level

Outstanding results achieved despite challenging circumstances

Amera Badawy collecting her results 

Despite the challenges present by the Covid-19 pandemic, students from Ark Putney Academy are celebrating an excellent set of results at both GCSE and A Level.

With the continued disruption to their education, students could not take examinations in the usual way and instead received teacher-assessed grades based on what they had been taught, not what they missed.

Each student was issued with a Chromebook to ensure that they could access digital learning at home. All lessons were taught remotely following the full timetable, with students logging on at 8.30 to access tutor time and assemblies, followed by a six-period day of whole learning.

Students were taught live via MS Teams using various digital tools, with classes being supported by TAs. When the students resumed their face-to-face school experience, they started a full revision programme, which prepared them for their final exams, which replicated real GCSEs.

Among Ark Putney Academy’s high performers in this year’s GCSEs were:

Remon Sarker managed an outstanding nine GCSEs at grade 9 and one GCSE at grade 8. He says, “I’d like to thank my teachers, family and friends who believed in me and inspired me to work hard during such a difficult period. It is my long-term goal to study medicine, and these results will really set me up for A Levels.”

 
Remon Sarker & Danyal Khan  

Danyal Khan is another student celebrating academic success , with seven 9s, two 8s and one 7. Danyal says, “If you have curiosity and a goal in mind, you will be able to succeed no matter what your background. I am so looking forward to delving into my A Level subjects next year. I plan to study Chemistry after the sixth form, and I’ll be the first generation in my family. My parents are really proud of me.”

Another student Hun-Ji Kim balances her semi-pro golfing career with a dedication to her schoolwork. She achieved six 9s, three 8s and one 7. She joins Ark Putney in the sixth form to study a suite of science A Levels in September.

Other students have overcome great adversity during their time here. Zane Buanani-Smith experienced significant challenges during KS3 & 4 and was a young carer for his father.

Zane’s attendance suffered massively as well his attainment. H still managed the following results: 9, 8, 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5 and Distinction* in Sport BTEC. He says, “The staff at APA really lifted me up when things were hard. I felt that as soon as I started making an effort, I saw positive results. This spurred me on, and I found myself wanting to come into school. I want to be a reference point for people going through similar things – it’s literally down to you, but I am proof that you can be successful.”

 
Zane Buanini-Smith   

Sophie Leahy is another student who has made huge improvements over the last few years. With attendance moving from an average of 50% at KS3 to 96% in Y11, Sophie now can congratulate herself on one 1 9, two 8s, four 7s, one 6 and one 5. She says, “When I started realising that I was doing this for myself and my future, something suddenly clicked. I started to achieve because I was investing in myself. For me, success is happiness – I feel like I have achieved that; I hope to continue that into the sixth form.”

Head of Year Ms Cameron & Sophie Leahy  

Maicha Gilbert has won a place at the London Screen Academy sixth form to study a Post-Production course, she says, “I’m really pleased with my results, and I am so excited for the next chapter. I would like to thank my careers teacher for helping me find this opportunity. I would like to say, even when life is hard, you never stop doubting yourself – there can be a happy ending if you make it one.”

Maicha Gilbert   

Ark Putney Academy Principal Alison Downey: “Seeing such strong results today and the joy on our students faces today is truly wonderful. It is a testament to our student’s hard work, dedication and resilience in a difficult academic year. I’d also like to thank all staff for their endless support this year. They, like the students, have had to adapt to a different way of teaching using digital tools to ensure that all students had the opportunity to attend all of their lessons from home.”

Sixth formers at Ark Putney Academy were equally successful and this year saw students awarded the highest ever scholarship funding

Amera has been living independently and supporting herself with part-time work throughout her studies. She is off to study Environmental Anthropology at University of Sussex in September and achieved A*AB result. Investment Management firm, Aurum, have awarded her their Environmental and Social Scholarship of £50,000. In addition to her tuition and maintenance fees, the scholarship will provide Amera with mentoring across her three-year degree and paid work experience placements to help boost her graduate prospects. Amera won one of the only two £50,000 bursaries available across the Ark network.

Amera says, “As soon as I found out I burst into tears. My teachers really advocate for me and were constantly helping me to find and apply for opportunities to help me on my pathway. Things have been really difficult for me over the last few years, and so this bursary is completely life changing - not just financially, but the paid work placements and mentoring support will be great. Long term I want to work with the UN, focusing on how climate change affects ethnic minorities and helping less able countries to combat global warming. I can't wait to start my journey.”

Leyla Ibrahim, is a £9,000 Marshall Wace scholarship winner, achieving ABB grades. “I am extremely grateful for this, and I honestly couldn't have done it without my teachers. My degree in Sociology at UCL will take me into humanitarian aid and development work and this financial support means that an entire year of my tuition fees is covered. Thank you so much!”


Leyla Ibrahim is off to UCL in September to study Sociology 

In addition to this Nour Sannoufa is a recipient of the £9,000 Marshall Wace scholarship and Carla Chavez Salazar wins the £3k scholarship.


Nour Sannoufa is off to study Neuroscience at University of Sussex 

Cooper Bolinius came to the UK very late into Key Stage 4 and his teachers say he has demonstrated great resilience and academic excellence throughout his time at Ark Putney Academy. At GCSE results day he was one of the highest achieving students with 5 subjects at grade 9 (equiv. A*). Now he is celebrating his A Level results of A*A*A*AA in Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Spanish and Further Mathematics.

He says “I arrived at school halfway through Year 10 and the APA community was very welcoming. My teachers were supportive and dedicated throughout my entire time at APA, right to the end of Sixth Form, including University prep. I am due to start my engineering degree at the University of Toronto next year and am currently completing some summer courses in preparation. I am really looking forward to the next chapter.”

Business student Melody Estriji has secured a degree apprenticeship with development group Berkeley Homes. Melody says, “I knew I wanted to continue my learning, but I also knew I wanted to do it in the workplace. The Building Futures programme allows me to cycle through different departments before I specialise and obtain my degree level qualification. I am really interested in surveying and project management, and I can’t wait to start!”


Melody Estriji Collecting her results  

Ark Putney Academy Principal Alison Downey said, “I am so proud of our Year 13 students who have worked very hard and should be congratulated on their achievements. It’s fantastic seeing so many securing high grades and progressing to their university of choice. Our students have faced so much uncertainty since the pandemic started and throughout their sixth form experience, but their commitment to their education has never wavered.

“I’d also like to give special thanks to the teaching and support staff who have been so dedicated to ensuring the school run smoothly, whether they were delivering lessons on site or online, providing pastoral care and everything else in between.”

This year’s grades were based on what students have been taught, not what they missed. Teachers used a mix of evidence including mock exams, coursework and other work completed as part of their course, such as essays or in-class tests. In addition, exam boards provided optional sets of questions for teachers to use to help them gather evidence.

Nationally, the proportion of A-level entries awarded an A grade or higher reached a record level with girls performing better than boys including in maths.

44.8% of UK students were awarded an A or A* grade this summer a rise of 6.3 percentage points compared with last year.

The proportion of entries awarded an A* grade this year increased to 19.1% the highest ever level since this grade was introduced in 2010.

Ofqual have published figures showing that 6.9% of students in England were awarded three A*s compared with 4.3% in 2020 and 1.6% in 2019.

Ark Putney is part of the Ark network of 38 multi-academy schools, which has supported schools with a three-strand programme that focused on enabling digital access for all students, protecting their mental health and helping students catch up on lost learning.

August 13, 2021