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.

Our GCSE students have been celebrating results that have opened up routes into nursing, teaching, university and more.

Learners of all ages found out their results on Thursday 22 August, and are now looking forward to taking their next steps in education or work.

Denise Winterburn – who was on holiday when she learnt how she had done – was thrilled with her Grade 5 in English. She said: “This means I can now make progress in my career and enrol to become a nurse apprentice.

“I couldn’t be happier and I’m really grateful for the help from my very supportive teachers, they were brilliant!”

Praise for ‘wonderful teacher’ Marie

Another student celebrating was aspiring teacher Matt Rodgers. Matt now has several options to choose from when it comes to where he will go to start his training this September, after securing both his English and maths GCSEs.

He said: “Marie Doney, my maths teacher, was amazing. She gave extra support when I did not understand things and she was so helpful.”

Many others also took the opportunity to praise Marie, who completed her final day at the college – after 14 years’ service – on results day.

Olivia Scothern, who is aiming to go on to higher education after achieving a Grade 4, said: “I would not have passed without Marie’s help, she is a wonderful teacher and I am so grateful.

“I am now applying to university and my experience as the college’s Students’ Union rep here will be really useful. I want to have a career as a primary school teacher.”

Fellow GCSE maths student Hannah Fearnley added: “I spent a long time not believing in myself. Marie has been brilliant, helping me build my confidence.

“This result just proves that if you apply yourself, you can do it.”

Jake Frieze-Smaje’s Grade 4 in maths, meanwhile, will enable him to continue his studies with us. He said: “I am coming back to Harrogate College this year to complete my diploma in Hospitality and Culinary Skills.

“I’m really happy I passed, my maths teacher was really friendly and spent a lot of time helping me to understand.”

And Craig Shava’s maths pass will allow him to study Applied Science with us as he works towards a career in radiography.

Craig Shava

For Latera Gnaro, a Grade 4 means he can now go ahead and study IT at our sister institution, Leeds City College.

Amazing support delivers English success

GCSE English students also had plenty to celebrate on the day. Anna Jarzynska was delighted with her Grade 4 – and also surprised, as she thought she might need another year.

She said: “I am so excited to have passed! It was only due to the amazing support from my teachers, Seona McLinden and Christine Day.”

Callum Ross, Alex Ross and Hayden Whitehouse all echoed those sentiments and, after finding English difficult at school, said they enjoyed experiencing a different teaching approach at college.

Jack Garbutt, meanwhile, saw two years of hard work pay off – all done while he was also completing his Level 2 Motor Vehicle course – as he achieved a Grade 4.

Programme Manager for English and Maths, Debbie Redman, praised Jack’s English teachers, learning support assistants and the pastoral team for supporting his progress.

Jack Arbutt (left) with Anthony Kay from the college’s pastoral team

For many learners such as Callum Bell, who achieved a Grade 5 in English, their results have opened up a range of exciting opportunities.

Callum said: “I came back to try again after a bit of a break and have succeeded this year with the help of my great teachers. Now I have both my maths and English GCSEs, I have more choices about what to do next.”

Students of all ages have been celebrating GCSE success at Harrogate College.

For many, their time at college has been used to gain a qualification that they missed out on during their school years – and to build up their self-belief.

Jen, for example, wasn’t able to sit exams at school and had lacked confidence  before taking on her maths GCSE, which she achieved a grade 5 in.

Amazing support – and growing confidence

She said: “I loved coming to class and will really miss it! The support from my tutor was amazing, and I am coming back to do GCSE English.” 

JD Jackson came to the UK from the US a few years ago without any maths qualifications, so was delighted to achieve a grade 7.

He said: “I thought about doing maths for several years and finally decided to do it this year.

“I lacked confidence but, like many people now, I realise as long as you keep trying you will succeed.”

Happy to continue growing at Harrogate College

For Holly Parker, who was anxious about exams during her school years, it was a similar story – but this time in English, which she has just achieved a grade 5 GCSE in.

She said: “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teacher. I am excited to come back to Harrogate College to do my maths GCSE next year.”

For others, like Maruta Cesmane, taking on a maths GCSE was a chance to prove to herself that she could do well in the subject – and the course has also helped her manage her everyday finances. Martua was pleased to have made some great progress this year, and is returning to the college to aim for a higher grade.

Libby Proctor, meanwhile, has already been on that journey and re-sat her English GCSE to improve on her grade. She is now, after achieving a grade 4, looking forward to studying level 3 Childcare at the college.

For more on courses at Harrogate College click here.