Two thirds of graduates in the first ever take-in for a new East End sixth form have landed university places following today’s A Level results.

Cambridge Heath Sixth Form only opened two years ago but teachers have described the achievements of its 96 graduates as “excellent”.

Out of the 75 who applied for university, more than 60 got into the institute of their choice.

One high-flyer, Rupa Akthar Ali, today found out she will become the first member of her family to go to university.

The bright 18-year-old is seeing out her ambition to become a cardiologist – a career she has wanted to follow since her father lost his life to heart disease.

Rupa, who has four older sisters and one older brother, got an A in Biology, a B in Chemistry and an A in Sociology and she will now study Biomedical Sciences at St George’s in Tooting.

She said: “Being from a not very well off background, I wanted to see myself going really far. I want to go on to do a post graduate and become a doctor.”

Abdul Koyes, 19, got three distinctions in his BTEC national diploma in Business Management.

He has dreams of a city career and is going on to study business at King’s.

He said: “I want to go into investment banking but I’m also thinking about starting my own business.”

Miya Haynes, 18, is also celebrating after getting an A in English Literature, a B in Drama and a C in Music Technology – enough to get her into Keele University.

She said: “I thought a degree would be a good platform for other things. The fee increases made me really work hard to go to uni this year rather than next.”

Head teacher of Morpeth, Alasdair Macdonald, said the hike in tuition fees has piled added pressure on students this year because of the fear that many more students are applying before the increases set in next year.

Mr Macdonald, whose school is in partnership with the sixth form, along with Oaklands and Swanlea, said: “It’s been a very difficult time for them. A lot were worried because they thought it would be very difficult to get into university this year because fees go up next year.

“It’s hard work setting up a new sixth form but we are very pleased indeed with the results. The pupils who chose to come here were taking a bit of a risk because it was new but it’s paid off.”

A �4 million investment to set up the sixth form, in The Wessex Centre in Hadleigh Street, was provided under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

After the success of the project, more cash is now being injected to provide four other Tower Hamlets schools - Bow, Langdon Park, Stepney Green and St Paul’s Way - with sixth forms.

They will open in the next three years.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said the council is investing in education because it sees it as the key to escaping deprivation.

He explained: “I see education as the only road out of poverty for our young people. These kids have empowered themselves massively today and given themselves a huge boost.

“Many kids who start nursery in this borough do not speak a word of English. The base from which they start is lower but many come through and get good GCSEs and A Levels. That’s because of the commitment from themselves, parents, teachers and support from the authorities.”