Abiaz Afzal

• Student Leadership Team
• Achieved 9 grade 9s in his GCSEs
• Jack Petchey Foundation Winner
• Mathletics participant
• National League Table Tennis
• Mentor to younger students

After leaving The Gateway Academy, Abiaz went on to secure four A*s in his A Levels. He then gained a place at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge where he studied Medicine. Abiaz has been a mentor to year 11 students whilst at University and has come back to Gateway to talk about his experiences here to students and families at Open Evening. Abiaz was a proud and high profile Grammar Band student whose hard work, commitment, ambition and dedication allowed him to go on to such academic and professional successes.

Lilie De Breuk

• Achieved grades 7+ in all subjects
• Student Leadership Team
• Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge
• Fluent in four languages

Following her graduation from The Gateway Academy, Lilie went on to study History, Spanish and Art History at the London Academy of Excellence at A-Level where she achieved two A*s and an A. From there, she went to the University of Sheffield to study for a BA in Japanese Studies, spending a year abroad in Japan. Lilie says that in a time when diplomacy is growing more important by the day, she wants to help bridge the gap in communication through her skills and knowledge of languages. 

Chibuike Udeh

• Achieved grades 7+ in all subjects
• Represented the Academy at Basketball
• Represented the Academy at Football

Chibzz left The Gateway Academy to study A-levels achieving an A* in Sociology, A in Business Studies and A in Economics. He then went on to the University of Warwick to study Business Management. Chibzz became the strategy consultant at Oliver Wyman, the business and management consultancy firm in London, where he solved business strategic problems using data analytics, research skills and proven financial and strategic models. Chibzz says he has very fond memories of his time at Gateway and was honoured to come in and speak to parents and students at our Open Evening.

Braedie Atkins

• Achieved 11 GCSEs with top grades
• Vice Chair, Thurrock Youth Cabinet
• Teaching Assistant intern

Since leaving The Gateway Academy, Braedie went on to Sixth Form and secured four A Levels with top grades. She then gained a place at Warwick University to study Politics and International Studies. From here, Braedie moved on to Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge where she gained an MPhil in Education. Braedie has been a prolific champion of widening participation in education and chaired the association whilst at Warwick. Braedie is also a writer for Perspectives Magazine and Warwick University’s The Boar.

Gabriele Vaitkute

• Head Girl
• Student Leadership Team
• Achieved grades 8+ in all subjects
• Represented the Academy at Netball

After leaving The Gateway Academy, Gabriele moved on to study Psychology, Sociology and Politics at A Level. She achieved grades A* and A and secured a place at Warwick University to study Psychology. Gabriele has been a frequent returner to The Gateway Academy and has been of great support at events, including a presentation to parents regarding academic study and at our Open Evening. 

Andrea Neville

• Student Leadership Team
• Achieved grades 7+ in all subjects
• Jack Petchey Foundation Speak Out

Andrea left The Gateway Academy and went on to study for her A Levels and achieved top grades. She was then awarded a place to study Ancient History at Hertford College, University of Oxford. Whilst at Oxford, Andrea was a schools ambassador and an integral part of their outreach team. Andrea has been a mentor to year 11 students alongside her University studies and has gone on to a Masters in Museum Studies at University College London. 

 Asif Salarzai

• Student Leadership Team
• Achieved grades 7+ in all subjects
• Full scholarship to the University of Oxford

Asif came to The Gateway Academy aged 14 as an Afghan refugee who had never been to school and without any English. His achievements whilst here and since then have been phenomenal. Asif has gone on to score top grades in his A Levels and was awarded a full scholarship to study History and Economics at Somerville College, University of Oxford. Asif has had an active role in youth councils, has been an Ambassador for A National (Coram) Voice and served as an Expert by Experience panellist to England’s Independent Care Review. Asif has also served as a research intern at the GloCoBank project.

 Oyinola Agoro

• Represented the Academy at Basketball
• Thurrock’s Next Top Boss
• Grades A* to B in all subjects

Since leaving The Gateway Academy, Oyin set up his own social media company with over 100,000 followers across all platforms and will soon be launching his own app. His e-commerce business has generated over a six figure turnover in revenue over two years and has partnered up with some of the biggest brands in the world, becoming a media partner for Limitless Live, the UK’s biggest free music festival. Oyin has a business degree and gained a job at LadBible running their sports pages. He has worked with Thierry Henry, Bukayo Saka and Cesc Fabregas and says the Gateway Academy instilled in him a work ethic, a positive mindset and the belief that anything is possible if you work hard enough. 

Dominic Baker

• Head Boy
• Represented the Academy at Basketball
• Represented the Academy at Football
• Achieved grades A* to B in all subjects

Dominic left The Gateway Academy and went on to secure a first class marketing degree from the University of Greenwich. He then went on to the graduate scheme at Sports Interactive in their Social Media team. As part of this role, he interviewed professional sportspeople, managed marketing campaigns, organised events and shoots and has worked with a wide range of clients. Dominic credits the Gateway Academy with giving him the confidence during his time here to go on and fulfill his ambitions.

Emily Marshall

• Student Leadership Team
• Achieved grades A*-B in all subjects

After leaving The Gateway Academy, Emily went on to study A-Levels in English Literature and Language, Sociology, Geography and the Extended Project Qualification where she achieved 3 As and a B. She then went on to study for a BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status at the University of Greenwich graduating with a First Class Degree and qualified teacher status. Whilst at university Emily had the pleasure to be a part of The Open University and the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) Student Teacher Reading for Pleasure Ambassador scheme whereby she was nominated to help support student teachers by raising understanding and awareness of the importance of choice-led reading in childhood. Emily currently teaches within the GLC Trust and hopes to give back to the community in which she grew up. In the future Emily wishes to return to university to study for a masters in Children’s Literature looking at the theoretical approaches to children’s and young adults literature.

 Klaudia Lysakowska

• Achieved 11 GCSEs at A*/A
• Member of the Respect Project
• Work experience at Berenberg Asset and Management, London

After leaving The Gateway Academy Klaudia joined University College London to study Mechanical Engineering achieving a First Class Honours Degree. Between her second and third year she completed a placement at Red Bull Racing. Klaudia went on to complete a one year role at CERN, working as a Thermodynamic Engineer on the Compact Muon Solenoid detector. During university Klaudia was part of the UCL Rocket Team and worked on a medical start up company. 

Jasleen Kaur Devgun

• Achieved 11 GCSEs with top grades
• Student Leadership Team

Jasleen left The Gateway Academy and went on to study A levels in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry at Sixth Form. Jasleen then went on to study for a Master’s Engineering degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol. Jasleen committed herself fully to her studies and has enjoyed the challenges that academic curiosity and research have brought her.

Patricija Paleviciute

From Gateway, and having achieved grade 7 or better in all my GCSEs, I went on to study at Brampton Manor Academy where I did 3 A-levels in Psychology, Maths and Biology in which I achieved A*AA. After this, I gained a place at the University of Warwick to study for a BSc in Psychology.

Al-Habib Mraish

On leaving Gateway in 2019, I went onto Coopers’ Coburn Sixth form to study Maths, Further Maths and Physics. After my A Levels, I gained a place at Queen Mary University to study for a BSc in Physics with Data Science.

Senny Limbu

After leaving Gateway, I went onto Sixth Form to study A Levels in Business, Law, Maths. I worked as a Digital Marketing Executive during my gap year, before going to the University of Essex to study Economics and Psychology. Whilst at University I worked for six months in Brand Management, Advertising for two months, then helping as a lead for students with a new career development programme being launched at the University.

 Chloe Locke

Mathematics

I achieved grade 7 or higher in all my GCSEs, and went to Palmer’s College to study A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics and achieved 3 A grades. From there I went to the University of Nottingham to study Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Once I have graduated, I have returned to The Gateway Academy as a trainee teacher of mathematics. I have been a mentor to a Year 11 student at Gateway as a way of giving back to the school community which supported me during my time there.

 Danielle Robertson

Mathematics

Hello my name is Danielle Robertson, I am a former student of the Gateway Academy, class of 2013. The options I chose to study were: BTEC Dance, GCSE PE and GCSE History. Once completing my exams for a number of subjects I was able to pick up additional subjects, resulting in me leaving the Academy with even more qualifications. These additional subjects were GCSE Dance and Further Maths.

Alexandra Nita-Morariu

Spanish

I was Head Girl at The Gateway Academy in 2022-2023 and after my GCSEs went to Sixth Form at Harris Academy Chafford Hundred to study A-Levels in History, Politics, Psychology and Spanish. I currently support the Languages Department at The Gateway Academy by coming in once a week for students to practise their Spanish speaking skills.

Sam Blake

Mathematics

After leaving The Gateway Academy I went to college to study Maths, Computer Science and Business. Following on from college I went to university to study Mathematics with Secondary Education to train to become a maths teacher. I am delighted to be re-joining The Gateway Academy as a maths teacher and look forward to developing my career here.

Jodie Lee

History

I achieved grade 6 or higher in all my GCSEs, and went to Palmer’s College to study A-Levels in Law, Sociology and Health and Social Care and achieved a grade B or higher in all subjects. From there I began working at the Gateway Academy as an LSA supporting students with their special educational needs. I am now undergoing an Arts and Humanities degree with a specialism in History, through the Open University. Whilst being a trainee History teacher on the Gateway Academy’s teacher training programme. I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful community, and I look forward to furthering my career here at the Gateway Academy.