“Seven or eight years ago people like us in Hackney would have been demonised and called nerds, but coming to Mossbourne we are kindred spirits so to speak,” Mohamed Munye Abrar explains.
The 16-year-old found out this morning he had racked up an exceptional 11 A*s at GCSE.
“The one great things about Mossbourne is they made it feel normal to achieve academically,” he said.
He has spent a lot of time working after school to achieve his top marks, but said it’s a huge weight off his shoulders to find out his hard work paid off.
“There were times when I doubted myself but I was predicted these results and I’m happy I got them.”
He is going to study maths, Spanish, geography and English literature for A-level at the school’s sixth form and already has his sights set on Cambridge University, where he would like to study human social and political science (HSPS).
London Fields girl Meena Sears, who scored the same impressive grades, agrees the school’s ethos helped her achieve high.
“I went to another school until Year 10 where there was a lot of pressure to be naughty and bunk off school – but you wouldn’t get away with that here,” she said.
“Everyone does the work and there is no questioning that.
“The school is so structured, and you feel so secure.
“I had so much trust the teachers would get me good results because they are fantastic and work really hard.”
She is going on to study philosophy, classics, biology and English at A-level and also hopes to go to study HSPS at Cambridge University.
Aishat Azzan from Hackney Wick is yet another pupil who garnered 11 A*s.
“I cried a little bit,” she said.
“I’ve worked so much. This year has just been me revising all or the time.
“There were a few subjects I was behind so I had to make sure I went for after school lessons.”
She is going to study biology, geography, maths and psychology for A-level at Mossbourne.
Sylvie Bornat, from Victoria Park, achieved 10 A*s and two As.
She said: “I was surprised, but also not surprised. It’s been a hard year of work and at least it’s paid off.”
She is going to study chemistry, biology and maths at Mossbourne sixth form and wants to study medicine at university.
In the meantime she is off to the Reading Festival this weekend to celebrate.
Another of the school’s high achievers, Victory Akam, picked up nine A*s and three As.
“After I received my results I was relieved all that hard work and the extra work I’ve been forced to put in has come off,” he said.
“I’m thankful for being pushed the way Mossbourne pushes you.
“They help you achieve your best – to reach that proper full potential in a sense.”
He is going to study maths, physics, geography and economics A-level at the school and would like to study mechanical engineering at university.
Principal at the school in Hackney Downs, Peter Hughes, is “ecstatic” about he results – which have seen pupils perform a grade above what is expected nationally in terms of the value added score.
He puts the school’s success down to “a very simple process of good structures and routines”.
“To quote my predecessor, ‘it’s good quality teaching and learning every single day’,” he said, referring to Sir Michael Wilshaw, who is now head of Ofsted.
“Supportive parents, hard working teachers and students who are keen to do well – that results in our outstanding outcomes,” he added.
“There is no special ingredient. It’s just doing everything as well as we can.
“We always think about everything we can do and how we can do it slightly better and we apply that philosophy to every single thing we do every day.”
For more Hackney GCSE results and analysis, click here.
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