ARRIVING in the UK at the start of Year 11, Sandes Sangapala was predicted to get a Grade 3 in English.

Instead, with the help of his teachers at Mark Hall Academy in Harlow, he today collected a Grade 6, despite English not being his first language.

He also achieved three Grade 9, three more Grade 6, one Grade 7 and a Pass which takes him on to sixth form to study maths, physics and computer science.

Having moved to the UK from Sri Lanka one month into Year 11, Sandes, who wants to be a mechanical engineer, said: “It was mostly the school which helped me to get these results. I was very nervous opening them, but now I have them I am very pleased. My family are really happy and proud of me.

“The school supported me with after-school classes for English as that was my worst subject. They helped me a lot. I was predicted a Grade 3, but I got a Grade 6.

“I feel very grateful to the school and very thankful they helped me to get the grades I needed to go on to study A-levels.”