GCSE success opens up opportunities

Our students have opened up exciting academic and employment opportunities by achieving some great GCSE results.

Alexandra Krzsowska is a step closer to her dream of studying law at university after gaining a grade 5 in her English resit.

Alexandra, who wants to ultimately work as a solicitor, said: “This means I can pursue my dream and hopefully get into a good uni.

“The college has been great and I had so much support along the way.”

She now aims to study A levels in politics, English literature and philosophy to gain the qualifications she needs to progress to university.

English success for Kaiden – with some family help

Also among those celebrating this year was Kaiden Finfinger, who has passed his English GCSE (with a grade 4).

The result means Kaiden, who is dyslexic, can progress to his Level 2 Electrical course. His success is in part thanks to the support of his grandmother, Sherley, who came to the college last year to sit her English GCSE so she could help him revise.

English teacher, Seona McLinden, said she was delighted to see all of Kaiden’s hard work pay off.

Family support was also important to Will Winterburn, who achieved a grade 4 pass, too.

Will’s mum, Denise, studied and passed her English GCSE with us last year which inspired her son.

He credits the one to one sessions he had with his teacher, Seona, and all of the focused classroom work for helping him get the result.

University place secured

Adult learners, like Krystian Odwrocki, were also finding out how they had fared on Thursday 21 August.

Krystian studied physiotherapy in Poland ten years ago, before he moved to the UK.

He recently decided to go back to college, and has just achieved a grade 5 in English, plus Distinctions in his Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions).

Delighted with those results, which were achieved despite the challenges of studying in his second language, he has secured a place at the University of Huddersfield.

Krystian’s ultimate aim is to forge a career in the NHS.

‘Miles better than school’

Creative Media student Liam Pinchen, meanwhile, was full of praise for college life as he reflected on his grade 5 English result.

Liam faced some additional challenges this year but was determined to put in extra effort to prepare for his exams.

He said: “College has been miles better than school. School only cared about attendance, whereas college has been a lot more supportive and understanding.”

Praise for ‘amazing’ and supportive college

For 17-year-old Connor Williams-Husband, the day was all about making progress – and that’s exactly what he did in his maths and English resits, achieving a grade 3 and grade 4, respectively.

He said: “The college was amazing, I met a lot of new people.

“The teachers helped when they could and if I didn’t understand they were there to help. I feel very proud of myself and how the results turned out.”

The same was true for Joshua Spence, who improved his English from a grade 3 to a grade 5. Joshua credited his ‘amazing’ teacher, plus the tailored support he received, for making the difference.

Higher education in sight for Francine

Francine Farias Pozzi was very happily surprised with the grade 5s she achieved in English and maths.

Francine, who moved to the UK from Brazil a few years ago, has loved her time with us and says the college’s style of teaching has really suited her.

She is planning to come back to us to do an Access to HE course, and potentially very soon once her son, Milo, starts school.