Following months of virtual and in-person classes during the COVID pandemic, students at City of London Academy Highgate Hill have been celebrating their GCSE results today.

The students achieved an overall pass rate of 99%, with the proportion of students achieving the standard pass in English and Maths increased by 7%.

Some of the highest performing students include:

Nicole Ortiz Loaiza - 11 Grade 9s: English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, French, Spanish, Sociology and Business Studies

Sharlene Cera - 10 Grade 9s: English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, French, Religious Studies and Art and Design.

Rakeb Alemu - 10 Grade 9s: English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, French, Sociology and Religious Studies

Anisah Hussain – eight Grade 9s in Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Spanish, Sociology and Religious Studies, and two Grade 8s in English Language, English Literature.

Principal of City of London Academy Highgate Hill, Prince Gennuh, said:

“We are delighted with the incredible sets of results achieved by all students. They have worked extremely hard and shown resilience and tenacity in a very challenging year. They deserve the success that we are celebrating today, and we wish them the very best for the future.

“Thanks also to staff, parents, Governors, and our sponsor, the City of London Corporation, for their unwavering support for the students and the academy as a whole.”

GCSE student at City of London Academy Highgate Hill, Sharlene Cera, who achieved 10 Grade 9s, said:

“Thanks to all our teachers for believing in us, the pandemic did not stop them from stretching us academically. Without all the extra catch-up lessons and their encouragement, we wouldn't have achieved these great results.”

“Thanks also to my family for their support because, with these grades, I am now able to pursue my dream career in software engineering.”

Chair of the City of London Academies Trust Board, Tijs Broeke, said:

“The students at City of London Academy Highgate Hill should be delighted with their GCSE results today, not just because their hard work and determination has been reflected in their grades, but also for coping with the huge challenges presented by the COVID pandemic.

“My colleagues and I at the City of London Academies Trust Board send our warmest wishes and congratulations to the students, and our immense gratitude to the dedicated teaching staff.”

City of London Academy Highgate Hill is a member of the City of London Academies Trust, which runs the City of London Corporation’s sponsored academies. The City of London Corporation sponsors 10 Academies across Hackney, Newham, Islington, and Southwark.

The City Corporation has been named twice by social mobility charity, Sutton Trust, as the UK’s best academy sponsor for empowering pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to perform above the national average, and the leading academy sponsor for Progress 8 and Attainment 8, which track pupil progress and achievement.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For media enquiries, photographs and interview requests:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Public Services), City of London Corporation

T: +44 (0) 20 7332 1452 / M: +44 (0) 7795 333060 /

E: andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The City of London Corporation Family of Schools has one maintained primary school and 10 sponsored, or co-sponsored, Academies in neighbouring boroughs. It also supports three independent schools.

The City of London Corporation sponsors or governs the following schools:

City of London Academies Trust:

City of London Academy (Southwark)

Redriff Primary, City of London Academy

Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy

City of London Academy, Islington (co-sponsor City, University of London)

The City Academy, Hackney (co-sponsor KPMG)

City of London Primary Academy Islington

City of London Academy Highgate Hill

City of London Academy Highbury Grove

City of London Academy Shoreditch Park

Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre City of London Academy

Local Authority maintained school:

The Aldgate School

Independent:

City of London School

City of London School for Girls

City of London Freemen’s School