UAE students outsmart UK  peers in A-Level exams

Thirty-two per cent of the students in the UAE have received A*-A, which is higher than the UK national average of 26 per cent this year.

By Staff Report

Published: Sun 17 Aug 2014, 12:36 AM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 9:48 PM

Students at GEMS International Schools in the UAE again improved performance in 2014 A-Level examinations, while results in England have dropped slightly.

Thirty-two per cent of the students in the UAE have received A*-A, which is higher than the UK national average of 26 per cent this year. Fifty-eight per cent of the students in the UAE achieved A*-B across the GEMS Schools offering the National Curriculum for England, while again 52.4 per cent of their peers in England achieved the same.

There was significant achievement at The Winchester School, Jebel Ali with 31.9 per cent of the students obtaining A*-A, which is six per cent above the National Average in England.

In Abu Dhabi, at The Cambridge High School, 32 per cent of the students achieved A*-A while 60 per cent of the students achieved A*-B.

“Yet again, GEMS schools have increased and built on year on year high attainment in 2014 exam results for the National Curriculum for England. I am extremely pleased with these results across all grades at AS and A-Level. This clearly demonstrates that the gap in performance levels between GEMS Schools and national benchmarks for England continue to widen. The hard work of students, teachers and parents is evident in our schools and these results are a true reflection of their commitment to learning and drive to achieve the highest standards,” said Alan Marshall, group director of Standards, GEMS Education.

Simon O’Connor, Principal and CEO of Jumeirah Collage, was delighted at his school’s results this year. “I am enormously proud of the results which the students and teachers at GEMS Jumeirah College have achieved this year. At a time when the requirements for success at A-Level are becoming more challenging, our A-Level students have, yet again, surpassed all expectations. This puts them in an ideal position to continue their studies in the most prestigious universities and colleges around the world.”

olivia@khaleejtimes.com

100% pass at Al Yasmina School

Staff Report

ABU DHABI — Al Yasmina School students achieved 100 per cent pass rate in A-Level examinations this 2013-2014 academic year.

Taken by 66 students, the pass rate is a great improvement from last year’s 89 per cent. More than 50 per cent of the students achieved A* to B scores and over 30 per cent scored A to A*. The school also achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in Islamic Studies.

Al Yasmina’s Deputy Headgirl, Priyanka Ayer, is the school’s top performer receiving an A+ in all four subjects. “I feel relieved and very excited for the years ahead as these results secure a place for me to study medicine in King’s College London,” said the 19-year-old Indian national.

“My advice to all students doing their A-Levels is to stay organised and work hard because it really pays off in the end. I would also like to thank all my teachers in Al Yasmina for their constant support and guidance,” she added.

Headboy Shamir Khan, an 18-year-old from Pakistan, also falls among the top students in his year. Upon receiving his grades, he commented: “I’m overwhelmed with joy and relief as I finally know what my future holds. I have met the requirements of my offer to study Law at the University of York and I cannot wait to begin the next chapter of my life there.”

“It is a proud moment for the faculty and staff at Al Yasmina School that our students have achieved these astounding results. Their ability to manage the rigours of academic life while constantly engaging in extra-curricular activities has prepared them well as they move towards the next phase of their education. Achieving these impressive results required patience, rigorous hard work and a great deal of dedication from both students and teachers. It brings great joy to the entire Aldar Academies’ family to see the accomplishments of our students and we wish them the upmost success in their future endeavours,” said Tim Hughes, Principal of Al Yasmina.

Al Yasmina was founded in 2008 and has rapidly established itself as one of the Capital’s most outstanding international community schools. The B- and A-rated (High Performing) school, which has students of more than 60 nationalities, is currently the only Aldar Academies school that offers A Level.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com