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| A-level results 2018: 'I didn't know black people went to Cambridge' | A-level results 2018: 'I didn't know black people went to Cambridge' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A-level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have achieved the highest proportion of A* and A grades since 2012. | A-level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have achieved the highest proportion of A* and A grades since 2012. |
| Among those who opened their results are a young woman advised by her teachers not to apply for the top university course at which she has now gained a place and a young man who will study English, 15 years after he arrived in Britain "terrified" because he couldn't speak the language. | |
| The BBC spoke to a selection of students who are celebrating. | The BBC spoke to a selection of students who are celebrating. |
| 'I didn't know black people went to Cambridge' | 'I didn't know black people went to Cambridge' |
| For Daniella Adeluwoye, from London, the news that she has attained a place at the University of Cambridge to study human, social and political science has brought both elation and trepidation. | |
| "I am ecstatic. I'm really worried though," she told the BBC. | "I am ecstatic. I'm really worried though," she told the BBC. |
| The 18-year-old will become the first member of her immediate family to head to university after excellent results in English, politics and history. | The 18-year-old will become the first member of her immediate family to head to university after excellent results in English, politics and history. |
| "It's going to be like going to school in a parallel world," she said. | "It's going to be like going to school in a parallel world," she said. |
| "My mum works in a supermarket and my dad's a teaching assistant. I work in a fish and chip shop. | "My mum works in a supermarket and my dad's a teaching assistant. I work in a fish and chip shop. |
| "I've always come across very different people and it's going to be amplified in first year." | "I've always come across very different people and it's going to be amplified in first year." |
| After "average" GCSE results, teachers at Daniella's school in Wood Green advised her not to apply for the course. But watching videos by YouTubers like Courtney Daniella - a beauty blogger and Cambridge University student - had already made up her mind. | After "average" GCSE results, teachers at Daniella's school in Wood Green advised her not to apply for the course. But watching videos by YouTubers like Courtney Daniella - a beauty blogger and Cambridge University student - had already made up her mind. |
| "I didn't know black people went to Cambridge," Daniella said. | "I didn't know black people went to Cambridge," Daniella said. |
| "I saw it on my recommended YouTube list in Year 10. I thought, 'that could be me in two years' time'." | "I saw it on my recommended YouTube list in Year 10. I thought, 'that could be me in two years' time'." |
| 'I didn't learn to speak English until five years ago' | 'I didn't learn to speak English until five years ago' |
| In little more than a month's time, Eduardo Estevez will start a degree in biological sciences at University of Oxford. The student is celebrating A*s in maths and biology and an A in French. Five years ago, he couldn't speak English. | In little more than a month's time, Eduardo Estevez will start a degree in biological sciences at University of Oxford. The student is celebrating A*s in maths and biology and an A in French. Five years ago, he couldn't speak English. |
| "I'm Spanish-born, Colombian-raised, living in south-east London," he told BBC Radio 4s World at One programme. | "I'm Spanish-born, Colombian-raised, living in south-east London," he told BBC Radio 4s World at One programme. |
| "I moved here around seven years ago but didn't really learn to speak the language until about five years ago." | "I moved here around seven years ago but didn't really learn to speak the language until about five years ago." |
| Eduardo said the support of his school and hard work had been essential in helping him to achieve those grades. | Eduardo said the support of his school and hard work had been essential in helping him to achieve those grades. |
| "The support from Ark Globe Academy to push students that have English as their additional language was key for me," he said. | "The support from Ark Globe Academy to push students that have English as their additional language was key for me," he said. |
| "I wasn't performing at first. I was in lower sets. It wasn't just because I didn't know the content, it was because I didn't know the language. | "I wasn't performing at first. I was in lower sets. It wasn't just because I didn't know the content, it was because I didn't know the language. |
| "Sometimes when you can't speak English, you're undermined and you're thought to be not as good as the rest." | "Sometimes when you can't speak English, you're undermined and you're thought to be not as good as the rest." |
| 'No student should have to rely on medication' | 'No student should have to rely on medication' |
| Caitlyn Palmer, from Rutland, is celebrating A*s in English and extended project, alongside As in history and maths. She has gained a place at the University of York to study history, but it's been a difficult two years. | |
| "I struggled with stress quite a lot at GCSE," she said. | "I struggled with stress quite a lot at GCSE," she said. |
| "I was diagnosed with anxiety at the start of Year 12 and this developed to me being diagnosed with depression in Year 13. A-levels have been very hard for me. | "I was diagnosed with anxiety at the start of Year 12 and this developed to me being diagnosed with depression in Year 13. A-levels have been very hard for me. |
| "I struggled to find any hope as to completing my course. The stress placed on students is completely unfair." | "I struggled to find any hope as to completing my course. The stress placed on students is completely unfair." |
| Caitlyn said her sixth form was "supportive" and the head of pastoral care there "amazing". | Caitlyn said her sixth form was "supportive" and the head of pastoral care there "amazing". |
| "If I felt this way, I can't imagine how others feel," she said. "I've been on numerous different anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs throughout this period as well. No student should have to rely on medication to survive two years of study and exams." | "If I felt this way, I can't imagine how others feel," she said. "I've been on numerous different anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs throughout this period as well. No student should have to rely on medication to survive two years of study and exams." |
| Caitlyn says that being open and honest about her problems helped her to do as well as she did. Her teachers - "so supportive... always there as an outlet" - encouraged her to seek medical help when she "didn't want to admit something was wrong". | Caitlyn says that being open and honest about her problems helped her to do as well as she did. Her teachers - "so supportive... always there as an outlet" - encouraged her to seek medical help when she "didn't want to admit something was wrong". |
| 'A weight off my shoulders' | 'A weight off my shoulders' |
| Mohamed Dini Munye Abrar, who lives in London, has secured a place at University of Oxford to study English literature. The 18-year-old, who came to Britain from Kenya with his family when he was three, said his results were "a big relief". | Mohamed Dini Munye Abrar, who lives in London, has secured a place at University of Oxford to study English literature. The 18-year-old, who came to Britain from Kenya with his family when he was three, said his results were "a big relief". |
| "It's a weight off my shoulders," he said. | "It's a weight off my shoulders," he said. |
| "I'm having dinner with my family to celebrate and then I'll see what happens." | "I'm having dinner with my family to celebrate and then I'll see what happens." |
| Mohamed mentors students in literacy at his school - Mossbourne Community Academy, in Hackney. | Mohamed mentors students in literacy at his school - Mossbourne Community Academy, in Hackney. |
| "It's also a great boost for a lot of the young kids I mentor at my school," he said. | "It's also a great boost for a lot of the young kids I mentor at my school," he said. |
| "It's important for them to see someone who looks like them do well, someone who is black and working class." | "It's important for them to see someone who looks like them do well, someone who is black and working class." |