“I will definitely be celebrating"

With national results better than ever, most students at Harrow College appeared to be celebrating, although some still faced disappointment.

Aaron Hibbert, 19, has been hailed as one of the college's success stories. The teenager left Kingsbury High School, in Princes Avenue, Kingsbury, three years ago with no GCSEs. But having come to the college to give education another go, he got three Bs at A-level.

He said: "My mum will be over the moon."

"I left Kingsbury with no qualifications, and never thought that I would ever finish A-levels.

"But I'm ecstatic. It's hard to believe I have come here and have got these qualifications."

Susan Harrison, vice principal at the college, said Aaron is just one of many students that get a second chance in Harrow.

She said: "He came when people had given up on him. He has turned it all around and is going away with some fantastic results today."

However, some students did not get the results they wanted.

Jessica Kurji, 19, from Park Road, Harrow, got a C and two Ds.

She said: "It's mixed feelings here, as always on results days. Some did quite badly and have to go through clearing.

"I tried to prepare my parents for these results. I'm going to an individual college to do some retakes. And then I can go on to university."

College students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in six subjects, including history and geography, with 95 per cent passing a further eight subjects.

Mrs Harrison said: "We are very pleased. All the hard work of students and staff has paid off. We have lots of happy students going off to university."

As students left the college to confirm their university places and prepare for the future, many were making plans for the future.

Dipesh Kerai, 18, who will now go to Kingston University to study accountancy and finance, said: "I will definitely be celebrating. I'm shockingly pleased with my results, and I will be getting drunk now I hope."