'I moved from Spain alone at 16 - now I'm off to Uni': Some of the incredible A-level success stories across Greater Manchester

There were wild celebrations across Greater Manchester this morning (August 17) as thousands of teenagers got their A-level results.

Overall, four in five sixth form pupils have secured a place at their first-choice university, with another 12 per cent heading to their insurance option. That’s despite top grades falling, which was part of a push to bring A*s and As back into line with pre-pandemic levels.

In all, 27.2 per cent of A-level grades were A* or A, which puts the rate of top achievement in line with 2019 levels (25.4 percent). However, incredible achievement in Greater Manchester is not synonymous with top marks — as the M.E.N. discovered this morning.

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One pupil who has overcome the extraordinary to secure a place at university is Mercy Kalu, a student at Pendleton Sixth Form College. The 18-year-old will be going on to study Children Nursing at University of Manchester — despite moving to the UK on her own aged just 16.

"I moved to Manchester two years ago from Spain,” she explained. “I moved here alone and I'm living with my aunty at the moment. I moved for better opportunities, I miss Spain sometimes but it's okay.

"I feel like I made the right decision, I don't think I would have gotten into nursing in Spain if I was still there, also I love Manchester, I've made so many friends since coming."

Mercy got ABC grades in psychology, physiology and financial studies, and faces a nervous wait to see if she’s passed GCSE maths next week — and then she’ll be at a Russell Group uni.

Another success story in the face adversity came from Orla Raftery, who is from Sale. Now a student at the Royal National College for