A young man who was so ill he had to revise in hospital is one of the many success stories from an academy celebrating its first ever GCSE results.

Jayden Kimpton, 16, a student at St Mary Magdelene Academy, in Liverpool Road, Holloway suffers from such bad asthma that he has been in and out of Great Ormond Street Hospital for the last five years.

Yet he overcame these tricky conditions to scoop one B, six Cs and two D grades yesterday morning.

Jayden, who lives in Holloway, told the Gazette on receiving his results: “I’m really pleased, those will definitely do me. It has been really hard trying to study while I have been in hospital. I haven’t told my parents yet, I think they’ll be happy.

“I want to go on to study A-Levels, and maybe become a film editor.”

Overall, 60 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A to C grades in the first cohort to finish GSCEs at the academy, which opened its doors in 2007.

One of the star performers was Adam Temple, 16, who got 11 A*s and will now go on to study at Camden School for Girls.

He said: “It’s really good news, but my grandparents keep saying ‘why are you going to a girls’ school?’”

Another success story was Danika Lawrence, 16, who posted two As, seven Bs and two Cs. She said: “My mum is really pleased with me. I want to study A-Levels now and hopefully work in the fashion industry.”

Paul Hollingum, principal of the academy, said: “I am overwhelmed. The students have worked really hard and there are a lot of happy faces here today.

“The staff have been great as well, and have been waiting for this first set of results. The parents have all taken a risk because they believe in what we are trying to achieve here.”

About Jayden, he said: “It’s been really tough for him as he has spent so much time out of school – but he has worked so hard and has come away with some really good grades that will set him up for whatever he wants to do next.”