A STUDENT’S dreams of working in the space race went stellar yesterday with results that proved to be out of this world.
Teddy Mulenga could speak no English when he arrived in Darlington from Zambia ten years ago.
But the 16-year-old yesterday appreciated how far he had come when he opened his GCSE results and achieved an A*, seven As and B.
Teddy now lives in Darlington with his brother Mwaba, three, sisters Kabaso, 13, Chulyfa, eight. His mother gained a scholarship to train as a nurse studying at York University and working in Bedale, while his father works as an engineer at MOD Catterick.
Teddy now plans to study A Levels at Carmel in physics, chemistry, maths and further maths before continuing his learning at university where he hopes to read a degree in aeronautical engineering.
“I would love to work in the aerospace industry and dream of building space shuttles,” he said.
“The school has been really helpful, particularly with my English. We came here to get a better education and with results like this it was certainly a great decision.”
For budding politician Liam White the results were a step closer to his ambition to work in politics.
The Carmel College student is a member of the Youth Parliament and an ambassador for looked after children being vice-chair of Darlo Care Crew. He secured five grade Bs including English and maths and will stay on at sixth form to study maths, ICT, computer science and electronics.
He said: “Most politicians are career politicians but I would like to go out first and gain some real life experience and, while I do, work for GCHQ in cyber warfare.”
His success was one of a number at the college which exceeded 80 per cent in the benchmark five GCESs grades A*-C including maths and English.
Other top performers were Toby Gay, 16, who gained eight A*s and two As and Anna Troy, 16, who achieved five A*s and six As, who wants to become a vet.
Principal Maura Regan said: “Students and staff should be very pleased with an excellent set of results which not only vindicate a lot of hard work but also provide a wonderful foundation on which they can build their future lives.
“Teachers are real game-changers in terms of children’s futures and the dedication of the staff bares this out.”
