A schoolboy who secured top marks in his GCSEs is set to follow in the footsteps of David Cameron and Boris Johnson after winning a scholarship to Eton worth £76,000.
Ishak Ayiris got two A*s, four As and four Bs in his GCSEs.
The results mean he is set to swap his digs in a West Ham council estate for a wood-panelled room at the 15th-century school, which has produced 19 Prime Ministers.
The 16-year-old is now gearing up for life at Eton in September, entering in the sixth form to study A-levels in politics, philosophy and economics.
He said: “I am obviously very pleased. It is the beginning of something very new and exciting, a new journey, and I’m looking forward to it.
“It will be a wonderful experience for me where I will get the chance to meet all different kinds of people.
“But that does not mean I will forget who I am and where I have come from and the help I have received from my family, friends and the school.
“I want to come back to Newham and help the people that I grew up with who may not have been given the same chance that I have. I want to use this opportunity, get the best education I can and help others.”
Meanwhile, classmate at Forest Gate Community School, Irfan Badshah, was also celebrating after getting the grades that will see him take up a £67,000 scholarship at Winchester College.
Irfan, who got three A*, four As and two Bs will study History, Theology, Philosophy and French.
He said: “I’m extremely glad to be going to an institution of such prestigious calibre. A seven hundred year old hive of learning. It will be a formative part of the two years of my life.
“I’m grateful for the wonderful support I have received from the teachers here, in particular Mr Saeed Hussain, then the deputy head teacher.”
Head teacher Simon Elliott said: “I am extremely proud of these young men. These offers have been in place for six months but were very much dependent on them achieving in their GCSEs.
“It would have been very easy for them to have thought it was job done but they didn’t, they knuckled down and got the results they needed.”
The pair were among a number of students who celebrated top marks as the school, which saw record highs in GCSE results across core subjects.
Simon added: “I am delighted with the results we have achieved this year, particularly in the vital subjects of English and Maths.
“70 per cent of our students got grade A*-C in English, and 77pc got grade A*-C in Maths.
“At a time of significant turmoil in results nationally, Forest Gate has bucked the trend to improve to significantly above the national average.
“You have pupils like Ishak and Irfan who are clearly very gifted academically. But you also have a lot more students who need to be worked with a little harder.
“Just over 92 pc of pupils at the school will be going on to sixth form at a college or at another school or academy.
“The remaining 8 pc will be starting a job.
“It is very pleasing we are not just teaching these young people, we are preparing them for life.”
Read more:
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here