SHEFFIELD teenagers are celebrating record results in their GCSEs this year and looking forward to bright futures at college, in sixth forms or in work-based training schemes.
See our eight-page GCSE results supplement on Tuesday.VIDEO: Press the green play button to watch our video of Firth Park students celebrating their GCSE results.
Brightside MP and former Education Secretary David Blunkett hailed some performances as phenomenal – especially in the north of the city.
He said: "It demonstrates that these young people really can do it and shows why we should never, ever write any child off."
At Firth Park Community Arts College Hesham Al-Zawqari passed 11 GCSES in style even though he only came to the UK from the Yemen two years ago, when he spoke no English.
He said: "I picked up the language with the help of my teachers but it really wasn't easy. Now I'm planning to go on to Longley Park College to take three A-levels."
Fozia Naway passed with seven A*s and 2 As. She said: "I worked really hard at after-school and lunchtime clubs and staff gave me great support. Now I'm going to the sixth form at King Edwards and I hope to study medicine at university."
Byron Clarke, with seven good passes, said he was off to Hillsborough College to take a BTEC National Diploma in sport.
At Shirecliffe's Parkwood High, which becomes the city's newest academy next week, Jake Gamban was thrilled with his 10 passes, four at A and A*.
He said: "I worked hard, attending after-school revision sessions four times a week. I'm now going to Longley Park College and my ambition is to become a sports journalist."
Shansa Mohamud was celebrating 14 GCSE passes, with 12 at A and A*, saying she revised for two to three hours every day.
She is now going to take four A-levels at Silverdale.
Kelly Scaife with 14 A-Cs stayed for two-hour after-school sessions and is going to Hillsborough College to take a course in health and social care.
She said: "My ambition is to be a midwife – it's something I've always wanted to do."
Faith Pearson at Yewlands School in Parson Cross said her revision programme began last September and she is going to the sixth form at All Saints High.
She said: "I've got all As, Bs and Cs, better than expected, and I'm really happy. I now want to go on to university."
Harriet Steers achieved 11 top passes and is now off to Thomas Rotherham College to take four A-levels.
At Fir Vale School Carlene McCalla was "quite shocked" to pass 11 GCSEs and is off to the new Park Academy sixth form.
Umair Aslam is off to Birkdale School sixth form after winning the Ogden physics scholarship and passing 12 GCSEs, all at A and A*. He said: "Now I'm taking on five A-levels, six with general studies, and at university I want to study maths or medicine."
Saad Ali is hoping to combine A-levels at Notre Dame High with his ambitions to become a professional cricketer. He has 14 GCSE passes and an A-level in Urdu.
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