This year, teachers in England submitted their decisions on pupils’ grades after drawing on a range of evidence, including mock exams, coursework, and in-class assessments using questions by exam boards.

We are keeping track of how schools in south east London fared:

Bexleyheath Academy

Students at Bexleyheath Academy have been celebrating some of the best results in the school’s history. 

All of the Sixth Form students will now be going on to begin employment, join apprenticeship programmes or take up places at university. 

Students Penny Morgan and Summer Hofford are both looking forward to studying Mathematics and Psychology at the University of Manchester and King’s College London respectively.

Graeme Napier, Principal of Bexleyheath Academy said: “Congratulations to all of our students on their fantastic results. They should be rightly proud of these grades, which they have worked so very hard for.

"Our students have responded to the challenges of the past few months, with determination, compassion and patience.

"Whether they are going onto university, high-quality vocational courses, or employment, I am confident that they will continue to make us proud.”

READ MORE: A-Level results day 2021 LIVE updates from across south London

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace

Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, 2021 has been a successful year for Year 13 students at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace.  

One student whose performance has been exceptional is Issac Denucci Diarasouba. Zac has secured a much-coveted place at the University of Cambridge to study Computer Science. 

Another of the academy’s talented computer scientists, Hamza Quereshi, will be studying the subject at the University of Oxford. 

Zac and Hanza

Katherine Cumberbatch, Executive Principal, said: “We are immensely proud of our students who had gained places such prestigious establishments. 

“They have worked so hard and had to endure such a horrendously disrupted two years of their education.

"It hasn’t just been the national school closures but the significant reduction in movement, freedom and socialising which will have impacted on them all in a variety of ways.  

“Our students have been remarkably resilient in the face of such adversity and all have risen to the challenge this year’s changes to exams has brought.

"We wish each student the very best for their next steps as they move into life beyond the academy.”  

Beths Grammar School

Students and staff at Beths Grammar School in Bexley are celebrating today following students receiving their A Level results - enabling them to secure places at prestigious universities, whilst some have gone on to coveted apprenticeships.

Students across Beths Sixth Form performed exceptionally well, with some of the individual standout achievements

William A achieved 4 A*s in Electronics, Further Mathematics, Mathematics and Physics, who is going on to read for a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath

Richard C achieved 3 A*s in Chemistry, Economics and Mathematics, playing for Charlton Athletic in their Under 18 and Under 23 teams at the same time he was studying.

Richard Chin and Angelika Quilala

He has since been offered a full-time professional contract with them.

Praising the achievements of students, the Headteacher of Beths Grammar School Richard Blyghton said: “We are delighted to see our Sixth Form students receive their results today, which are hugely deserved after working so hard over the last two years.

“At Beths Grammar School, we aim to nurture and shape our young people to be forward-thinking, confident, and motivated, giving them every chance to succeed and thrive in life.

“The commitment, resilience and spirit our students have shown over the last two years reflects this ambition completely.

“We are very proud of the next steps our students have now secured for themselves following today’s results and we look forward to hearing about their next successes.

“We are also looking to welcome the next cohort of students to our highly popular Sixth Form community in September”.

St John Bosco College 

Students at St John Bosco celebrated today after a record-breaking set of A Level results at the Battersea school that saw 45% of grades achieved at A* and A, and 85% of grades at C and above. 

Successful students Nooruddin and Rosa were delighted with their top grades and are both looking forward to heading up to Glasgow in the Autumn to read Maths. 

Nooruddin said: “I’m so excited to be going up to Glasgow and can’t wait to start studying up there!”

Headteacher Paul Dunne said: “This group of young people have been through so much in the past 18 months and for them to achieve as well as they have done, despite all the difficulties that they’ve faced is wonderful. 

"I as so pleased for them all. They deserve their success”.

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy

Students are celebrating at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy after another successful year of A-level and vocational grades.  

Over 50% of A-level results were A*-B grades, with the average grade being a B and 45% of students achieving an A grade.  

Students’ grades were awarded based on their outstanding performances in their end-of-year exams and represents excellent progress from GCSEs to A-level.  

Amongst the highlights were Kevin Canaj achieving A*AAA earning a place at Queen Mary University to study Finance; Faiyaz Ali achieving A*AA and earning a place at King’s College London to study Pharmacy and Saubira Idris achieving D*D* A and earning a place to study Economics and Management at Aston.  

A-level success at Knights Academy

A number of students earned places at Russell Group universities.   

Dr Tesca Bennett, Executive Principal, said: "We are so proud and send congratulations to all our students who have risen above the challenges of the last 18 months to sit a full exam series and achieve these fantastic results.

"This successful milestone in their educational journey will give them choices, improve their life chances and improve our communities.

"We wish all our Knights’ Academy alumni the best for their futures."

Welling School

Over the past 18 months students at Welling School  faced unprecedented disruption to their education.

Overall, the results show: ● 100% A* - E in all subjects.

● 84% of students entered for an academic subject achieved a grade A* - C and 18% achieved a grade A* - A.

● 100% of students entered for a vocational subjects achieved a Distinction* - Pass with the average grade being a Distinction.

● 53% of students applied to university and following their results students secured their place at either their first or second choice university, with two choosing to defer for a year.

This year 10% of those students applying to University secured places at prestigious Russell Group Universities.

Headteacher Mr Pett said: "I am delighted with this year's A Level and Applied General results. These results are based on students’ actual work, assessed by their teacher, moderated and quality assured.

“Students rose admirably to the challenges they faced and these results are a testament to their hard work and dedication.

“Welling School is an inclusive school, offering a range of qualifications and it is equally great to see students being accepted into Russell Group Universities and achieving qualifications that allow them to progress onto apprenticeships and further training and employment routes.

“I congratulate students and staff for their hard work".

Sydenham and Forest Hill 6th Form

Deputy Head Gill Pooley said: "We are really proud of all of our wonderful students at SFH6.

"They have worked hard for these excellent results. Students have shown remarkable determination and resilience over the last 2 years and we know that they are now ready for their next steps.

Sydenham and Forest Hill 6th Form

"Our students will be moving on to a fantastic range of University places including Oxford and Cambridge, Central St Martin's Art College as well as some brilliant apprenticeships.

"We wish them all the best for the future and we hope that they will all stay in touch."

The Quest Academy

Students at The Quest Academy in Selsdon performed well in their A Levels and BTECs, despite the disruption to their education in recent months as a result of the pandemic. 

In addition to overall successes, several students obtained impressive sets of results, including three students with two A*s and an A:  

Akira Douglas achieved an exceptional set of results with A* in Biology, A* in Chemistry and A in Maths.

Akira has secured her first-choice place to study Medicine at the University of Leicester, although she’s as yet uncertain what area of medicine she hopes to focus on in later life.

She said: “I’d always hoped to do medicine, although I had a few doubts along the way. With the help of friends and teachers, I pushed through those doubts.

"As well as the academic support I received from teachers, all the staff, but particularly my form tutor and the Sixth Form Administrator, really helped me, including with my personal statement, UCAS procedure and interviews. They managed to keep my morale high.” 

Natalia with her mum

Natalia Tobias was awarded A* in Sociology, A* in Religious Studies and an A in Politics, a particularly impressive set of results given that Natalia started at The Quest Academy in Year 10, having arrived from Brazil and speaking very little English.

Natalia is going to take a GAP year and then apply to study Law, either at Leeds University or King’s College, London.

Natalia said, “At the beginning, especially for foreign students, it’s always hard. But if you put your trust in your teachers, it’ll end up turning out to be a good experience, like it did for me.

"The teachers were always there for me, and it’s turned out with these great results but also great memories. Being at Quest6 has been wonderful.” 

Andy Crofts, Principal at The Quest Academy, said: “We are delighted today to be celebrating the achievements and destinations of our graduating Quest6 students.

"This year, more than ever, it has been the important partnership between expert teachers, determined students and supportive families that has culminated in these successes.

"The year group has been a delight to work with; we congratulate them on their results and wish them all the best for the future. Well done to everyone.” 

Harris Academy Beckenham  

Due to their hard work and dedication, Harris Academy's class of 2021 are off to some of the UK’s top universities and apprenticeship placements. 

Hewad Sayed will be the first student from the academy to study medicine.

Heis heading to Queen Mary, University of London, after achieving A*, A*, A. Congratulations Hewad on securing a place on this highly competitive course.  

Other individual success stories include:  

• Martha Knox who achieved A*, A*, A and will be reading politics at King's College London.  
• Marlena Bailia, who also achieved a Distinction* and 2 A’s and is heading to the University of Leicester to study law with criminology.  
• Jhane Williams, who achieved two Distinction* and is heading to De Montfort University to study Law and Criminal Justice.  
• Lili Pan, who achieved A*, B. Distinction is off to study biomedical sciences at Queen Mary, University of London.  
• Esther Jackson, who achieved a Distinction* and 2 A’s and will be heading to the University of Southampton to study chemistry.  
• Daniel Maier, who with A, A, A will be studying aerospace engineering at the University of Liverpool.  
• Andre Holyoake, who will be embarking upon an apprenticeship with IBM. 

Ciara Warnock, Principal at Harris Academy Beckenham, said:  “All students have shown high levels of commitment and perseverance enabling them to achieve some truly amazing results.

"We wish all our students the best of luck as they progress to university, apprenticeship programmes or into the world of work. We are immensely proud of you here at HABE.”