A young Bermondsey politician has urged society to appreciate teachers more after achieving straight A*s in his A levels.
Ruben David Buendia, 19, a student at St Thomas the Apostle School in Nunhead, will study Maths and Philosophy at King’s College London.
The Green Party candidate, who contested the Newington by-election in June, said: “Seriously, the teachers have made all the difference and it’s really sad they’ve only just started to be paid better.”
Ruben was referring to the pay-deal major teaching unions struck with the government last month meaning a 6.5 per cent wage rise.
He continued: “They’re just really essential and we should start valuing them more, starting with a pay rise matching inflation.
“The amount of unpaid hours that teachers do is crazy. They can’t afford to live in London so they often commute from places like Surrey. There are interventions, out-of-office emails. They do a lot and they’ve been undervalued sadly.”
Ruben reserved special thanks for his teachers Mr Scott, Ms Benati and Mr Ramsay.
He was just one success story in a cohort that saw 78 per cent of grades classed as A* to B, and 93 per cent as A* to C.
Kasifat Akadi, 19, from Lewisham, also got straight A*s and will study Medicine at the University of Liverpool.
“Honestly, I’m feeling mainly relief because I don’t have to keep thinking about it,” she said.
She continued: “The reason I want to do Medicine is because it’ll allow me to interact with different people and help to solve their problems.”
With nearly 90 per cent of students securing their first choice university, plenty are off to study degrees at illustrious institutions.
Joy will study Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Cambridge while Joseph will attend University of Oxford to study Economics and Management.
Students are also taking up places on degree apprenticeships at companies such as Barclays and PWC.
Headteacher Eamon Connolly said: “I am delighted for each and every one of our students for these excellent results; both those who have been with us since the age of eleven and those who joined for their sixth form studies.
“I am proud of the achievements and feel confident we have prepared them, both academically and personally, to enter adulthood and embark on their chosen degrees and apprenticeship courses as fine young people.
“Despite the challenges and upheaval, our students continue to perform incredibly well and surpass all expectations.”