A free school in one of the most deprived areas of London is sending 21 pupils to train as doctors, dentists or vets.
These degrees are typically dominated by students from private schools, most of whom are white.
But the London Academy of Excellence in Stratford, dubbed the ‘Eton of the East End’, has attained a level of success far higher than many private schools. Pupils achieved a school record of 99 per cent of A-level grades in the A* to C range, compared with 77 per cent nationally.
Headmaster Scott Baker said: ‘Every student who comes to LAE makes incredible progress and achieves the top grades required to study at a top university.’ The school said 148 pupils are heading to Russell Group universities, with 15 going to Oxbridge.
The London Academy of Excellence in Stratford, dubbed the ‘Eton of the East End’, has attained a level of success far higher than many private schools
The names of all the school’s star pupils set to study medical degrees at some of the country’s top Universities
Mr Baker added: ‘The barriers to success can seem daunting. These children show that anything really is possible.’
LAE was set up with the aim of getting bright children from poor families into top universities.
Many teachers are Oxford and Cambridge graduates and understand how to target top institutions. The success was partly down to teachers identifying hurdles to clear, such as work experience, taking the right A-levels, and sitting special medical school entrance tests.
The preparation of pupils extended to improving their confidence, interview skills and even how to give a proper handshake.
Waleed Sheikh achieved ABB, allowing him to read foundation medicine at Queen Mary University of London.
Sanilah Ali is the first in her family to go to university. She will study dentistry at King’s College London. Ashleigh Samuels, who will also study medicine at Queen Mary University of London, is one of only a few Caribbean-heritage students accepted to medical school this year.
Only 25 black Caribbean students started medicine or dentistry degrees in 2014-15 – 0.3 per cent of the total intake. And 95 per cent of students on veterinary science courses were white, according to official figures.
Matthew Feyissa, who will study medicine at King’s College, said his parents made great sacrifices by coming to the UK from Ethiopia. Viktoria Venkatess will study medicine at Southampton University. Raiyan Tahir will take dentistry at King’s College.
Monira Begum Miah, a debating champion, will study medicine at Queen Mary University.
Khanyisa Hoshe has a place to study medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
Kareena Talajia is to study medicine at Imperial College. Afsana Begum, who said she was inspired by her cat Timmy, will study veterinary medicine at Nottingham. She is one of only a handful of students of Bangladeshi origin to train in this field. Bethan Kelly, the daughter of a mechanic, will study veterinary science at Nottingham. Simran Mahmud will study medicine at Imperial College and Brojeswar Purkayastha will read medicine at Liverpool.
Aderonke Adesanoye is studying medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.