Young people across the borough are celebrating after getting top marks for A and AS levels and smashing the national average.
Lewisham’s schools and colleges have achieved a 98.5% pass rate at A level – easily seeing off the national average of 96.6%.
And all seven A level institutions in Lewisham bettered the national average.
This year’s exceptional students have pushed the borough’s average pass mark up by 2% on last year – an improvement of 4.6% since 2003. And more students than before are heading into Higher Education.
Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: 'Yet again Lewisham has shown its schools and colleges are producing top class students and standards keep on getting better.
'The students should be proud of their hard work and what they have achieved and their headteachers, teachers and governors proud of the excellent education they have provided.
'With our £250m school building programme already underway I believe we’re just seeing the beginnings of how well our schools and their students can do.'
Cllr Robert Massey, cabinet member for children and young people, joined the mayor in congratulating the students. He said: 'Today is a very important day for many of the young people in Lewisham.
'With A and AS level exams providing access to further and higher education the great results that have come in mean that many more of our young people are going to University.
'Good things are ahead for our students and I wish them all the best of luck for the future and look forward to more success stories next year.'
Prendergast
Prendergast this year has achieved a 98.1% pass rate at A level.
Headteacher Erica Pienaar said: 'These are great results. Our girls are talented young women who are already skilful learners – they will be wonderful university undergraduates and I'm very proud of them all.'
Crossways
Crossways Academy is celebrating a successful second year with a 98.3% pass rate at A level – up 2% on last year. Second year students taking AS levels as achieved a 90% pass rate.
The students celebrating exam success at Crossways are the first to complete two years of study at the academy – which opened in 2004.
Principal Anthony Bravo said: 'It’s just fantastic news and a credit to the staff and the attitude of our students.
'It confirms if you put young people into a supportive environment that has been designed for them they will flourish.
'We’ve increased stay on rates, increased exam results and increased the numbers going to university – it shows the investment in Crossways and the federation has been worth it.'
The hard work and dedication of many students and staff has been rewarded this morning, but every year some pupils do not receive the grades they hoped for.
Those planning to attend university can use the clearing system to search for vacant spaces – visit www.ucas.ac.uk for more information.
| |
2006 % pass rate (A – E)
|
| National average |
96.6 |
| Borough average |
98.5 |
| |
|
| Christ The King Sixth Form College |
98.8 |
| Crossways Academy |
98.3 |
| Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham |
98.8 |
| Lewisham College |
100.0 |
| Prendergast School |
98.1 |
| Hillsyde Consortium |
96.9 |