A-level results: Hard work pays off for our future MPs and GPs

For Mu-Hamid Pathan, studying for A-levels had to be juggled with a bid to become city mayor.

The 20-year-old went up against Sir Peter Soulsby in last year's election to choose someone to run Leicester, standing as an independent.

He was the youngest candidate in Britain in a mayoral election.

While pursuing his political ambitions, Mu-Hamid, from Highfields, Leicester, also worked diligently on his academic studies at Regent College, in the city centre, and gained an A* in citizenship, an A in politics and Bs in English and law.

"In the run-up to the election there were four-hour debates most nights and all the preparation for those," he said.

"Campaigning went on through April and early May, when I was doing my first year exams.

"But the college was really helpful and let me pick up my work. They really supported me."

In January, Mu-Hamid flew to New York to speak at a conference about politics in front of young people and American senators, arriving home in Leicester the day before an exam.

He will now study law at the University of Leicester and hopes to become a city MP.

Tragedy inspired Mohsin Hussein, a student at Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College (QE), in University Road, Leicester, to work hard.

The death of his father fired his dream to become a heart specialist. The 18-year-old, from Scraptoft, achieved three A*s and an A in biology, chemistry, maths and economics,

"I'm going to study medicine at Nottingham next term and I'm thinking about specialising in cardiology," he said.

"My father had heart problems and died when I was studying for my GCSEs.

"That has made me want to help other people with heart problems.

"It was the toughest year of my life but I did well in my GCSEs and now I have the A-level results I need to do medicine."

Friend and fellow QE student Sagar Kanabar is also planning to study medicine.

Sagar, 18, from Belgrave, Leicester, who got three As and an A* in biology, economics, maths and chemistry, said: "I have got lots of little cousins and I have a fondness for children so I'd like to become a pediatrician.

"I'm taking a gap year first and I'm off to Namibia for four months where I'll be working with medics helping sick people."

Umar Patel, who studied at City of Leicester College, in Evington, is the first in his family to get a place at university.

He will be going to Cambridge to study maths after gaining top grades of A* in maths and further maths, A in physics and B in economics.

"Finding out that all my hard work had paid off felt amazing," said Umar.

"It still hasn't sunk in that I will be going to a world-class university."

Jemma Mickleburgh, 18, of St Paul's School, in Evington, wept with joy when she opened her results to find she had an A* in maths and As in biology and chemistry.

An overwhelmed Jemma said: "I didn't have any breakfast. I felt sick and now can't stop shaking.

"But I'm so happy. I'm going to be a doctor."

A few miles away, at Leicester High School for Girls, in London Road, Knighton, twins Becky and Jenny Millar, both 18, exceeded their expectations and between them achieved two A* and four A grades.

"We've not had a life for the past few months," said Becky. "But it's been worth it. We didn't sleep much last night, we just sat up watching films and trying to take our minds off it."

Becky is off to Bristol University to study English literature.

Her sister will be 370-miles away in Durham, studying archeology.

Between them they will have to pay £18,000 in tuition costs for the first year alone, following the changes in the way university courses are paid for.

Jenny said: "When we haven't been studying we've been working to help pay for the fees."

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A-Levels: Provisional results for 2012

School	A	B	C	D
STATE SCHOOLS
Ashby School	267	100	17	54
Beauchamp, Oadby	435	98	24	N
Bosworth Academy, Desford	174	100	34	56
Charnwood, Loughborough	132	95	41	67
City of Leicester	88	99	19	52
Countesthorpe	111	97	16	69
De Lisle RC, Loughborough	140	98	25	51
English Martyrs RC, Leicester	46	100	16	60
Groby	131	100	19	57
Guthlaxton, Wigston	146	98	20	50
Hind Leys, Shepshed	98	97	18	52
John Cleveland, Hinckley	229	100	25	51
King Edward VII, Coalville	102	99	24	51
MV16, Melton	145	98	17	54
Longslade, Birstall	135	97	25	60
Lutterworth	333	98	21	48
New College, Leicester	25	90	21	59
Rawlins, Quorn	198	98	21	54
Robert Smyth, Market Harborough	178	98	19	55
St Paul’s RC, Leicester	42	99	28	52
William Bradford, Earl Shilton	N	N	N	N
Wreake Valley, Syston	154	95	16	46
COLLEGES
Gateway, Leicester	337	97	13	61
Leicester	74	95	14	58
Loughborough	133	98	13	56
Regent, Leicester	474	97	25	37
Rutland County, Oakham	140	96	7	57
Wyggeston and QEI, Leicester	968	98	23	53
INDEPENDENT
Dixie Grammar, Market Bosworth	38	97	25	46
Leicester Grammar	110	100	60	36
Leicester High	25	100	74	22
Leicester Montessori	7	100	29	N
Loughborough Grammar	147	100	60	34
Loughborough High	73	100	56	40
Oakham	N	N	N	N
Our Lady’s Convent, Loughborough	N	N	N	N
Ratcliffe College	73	100	43	47
Twycross House	22	99	59	37
Uppingham	198	100	56	41
A = Number of pupils entered; B = % passed; C = % of entries with A* or A grades; D = % of entries with B or C grades; N = not supplied.