Croydon is slowly but surely closing the gap after the latest round of A-Level results.

Croydon’s A*-E pass rate improved slightly from 95.74% in 2017 to 95.78% this year, rising against a national drop from 97.9% to 97.6%.

And the borough is closing the gap on A*-C grades. Despite being below the national rate of 78.4%, 72% of Croydon’s students obtained A*-C grades, up 2% on 2017.

Riddlesdown Collegiate student Isabella Hayden, 18, got A grades in English, history, Latin and a B in classics. She will be going to University College London to study classics in October.

She said she was “really nervous” before opening her results, but was relieved with what was inside, which were more than UCL were asking for.

Sadia Raman achieved A*, A and A in history, economics and philosophy/ethics. She will now go on to study politics and international relations at Queen Mary, University of London;

"I always had the goal to get into a top university and now I’ve done it," she said.

"I’ve had great friends, excellent teachers; everyone here has got your back through everything."

Croydon’s post-16 students also succeeded in their BTEC examinations, with a pass rate of 99.02%. This high pass rate was made all the more impressive in that 89% of students achieved the high grades (Distinction*, Merit or better).

Eighteen-year-old Jason Jack last month received two starred Distinctions and a Distinction in a BTEC Sport and got an A grade in A-Level Business.

The Riddlesdown Collegiate student will be heading to Sussex University next year to study Business and Management following a year out travelling around New Zealand.

He said: “I enjoyed the fact that I could do an assignment in a BTEC and revise for my Business A-Level. It’s manageable.”

This was the tenth year in a row that Trinity School, Croydon, achieved a 100 per cent pass rate and headmaster Alasdair Kennedy was delighted to hear the news.

“We are very proud of what our students have achieved in these exams, and their results will give them access to the world’s best universities and colleges, as well as competitive apprenticeships," he said.

“They are highly capable young people, and they, their teachers and those who have supported them will also recognise the character and skills that they have developed through their study for these exams are just as important as their results, and will prepare them to be positive contributors and leaders in their communities."