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Three pupils at Harris Academy Bermondsey are celebrating winning Oxbridge places today, overcoming the challenges posed by lockdown. Article courtesy of Southwark News.

The three girls, Korede, Fatjona and Elizabeth are all the first in their families to attend university, and have won places at prestigious universities with their top grades.

Korede, who commuted for two hours a day to the academy on Southwark Park Road before lockdown, is studying philosophy at Jesus College Cambridge, after securing 2A*s and an A.

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Fatjona (R) is heading to Oxford to study English and Malvina will be going to York

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Fatjona scored A*AA, and will be studying English at Worcester College, Oxford, while Elizabeth’s same set of top results will see her reading French and History at Brasenose College, Oxford.

Korede is the first in her family to go to university. “I couldn’t have done this without the support of the teachers,” said Korede. “Thank you so much, I can’t believe it.”

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Elizabeth is also heading for Oxbridge after her top results

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Rebecca Iles-Smith, principal of the academy, said the results were testament to the resilience of the Year 13 cohort, who overcame a global pandemic to secure their grades.

“So many of our students and families suffered in lockdown, but our Year 13 are the definition of resilience,” she said. “Many are the first in their family to go to university and have overcome huge challenges to achieve this highly.

“They have come so far already and I feel they are ready to change the world! I cannot wait to see what else they achieve in their futures.”

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Korede is the first in her family to go to university.