Results say it all for Aleksandra

BEST progress title . . . Aleksandra Makuca

SERBIAN teenager Aleksandra Makuca is celebrating a huge personal achievement by scooping 4A*s, 1A, 4Bs and 2Cs.

Five years ago, the 16-year-old Royton and Crompton School pupil couldn’t speak a word of English.

And after picking up her results she thanked her teachers for investing the extra time she needed to learn English while keeping up with her studies.

The teenager’s efforts not only gave her a list of exam results to be proud of, but earned her the “best progress” title for the year.

An elated Aleksandra, of Kirkfell Walk, Higginshaw Village, said: “I expected to get Cs and Ds, and I feel really good. I got everything I wanted.

“I came to England when I was 11 and could speak no English.

“I struggled with spelling and understanding lessons and I was in year eight or nine before I really began to understand.

“I just want to say thanks to all my teachers for helping me through it. I absolutely love the school and I am very sad to be leaving.”

Aleksandra was looking forward to telling her parents and 12-year-old brother of her success, and now plans to study science, maths and dance at Oldham Sixth Form College. Eventually, she wants to be a doctor.

Laila Hmami scooped six A*s and four A grades to emerge as the school’s best overall achiever. The 16-year-old, of Campania Street, Royton, did better than she thought in Spanish and English, and re-sat her maths to get an A* to improve on her last year’s A grade.

She now plans to go to Oldham Sixth Form College to study maths, psychology, Spanish and ancient history before going to university.

“It’s weird to have the best results and a bit embarrassing, I’m not used to getting so much attention,” said modest Laila.

Congratulating the two girls on their achievement, head teacher Desmond Herlihy said they were among a number of outstanding individual performances, and many pupils had achieved way beyond their expectations.

A total of 80 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades, including 61 per cent who got A*-C grades in English and maths.

Mr Herlihy described them as “outstanding results.”


Full exam result listings: see tonight’s Oldham Chronicle or read the Chron in full online (subscription required). Click the E-chron link.