Students at Activate Learning’s Guildford College are celebrating today after collecting their GCSE exam results.
95% of students taking full-time GCSE programmes or standalone maths and English GCSEs at the Stoke Road campus achieved a pass in this year’s exams.
Many of the college’s GCSE students are learners who resit maths, English or both, to continue in education or progress their career.
This includes mature students who need these GCSEs to progress in the workplace, learners who may have missed the chance to go to university and want to study at degree level, alongside part-time students who have studied GCSEs at evening classes.
Hannah O’Neill, Group Director of Academic Studies Faculty at Activate Learning, said: “It takes great commitment to succeed in GCSE exams, from both learners and teachers. I would like to congratulate all learners on their achievements and wish them the best of luck in their subsequent endeavours. I also extend my thanks to our wonderful teachers and support staff, who work tirelessly to inspire and support every individual, with our Learning Philosophy consistently at the forefront of their practice.
“It is worth noting that our GCSE learners come to us for a multitude of reasons, but all display great courage in doing so. Whether they are adult learners returning to education to boost their confidence, skills or employment opportunities, or young people hoping to improve on what they achieved at school so they can reach their goals, every individual student deserves recognition for their commitment to learning. It is a pleasure for us to be a part of their journeys.”
Eve Sully, 19 from Haslemere, an Access to Higher Education and part-time GCSE student at Guildford College, is celebrating an outstanding set of results including Grade 7 in GCSE English. Eve also achieved 33 distinctions in her Access to Higher Education: Nursing and Health qualification, despite only needing 21 distinctions to progress on to university.
Eve said: “I was told at school that I could achieve a Grade 7, but due to Covid and other health issues, I was unable to achieve it. I’m feeling really happy and am so proud of myself – I can accept my university offer now!”
Kate Allen, Eve’s Access to Higher Education tutor, told her: “You amazing, amazing lady – I am so proud of you!”
Eve will now go on to study Children’s Nursing at the University of Surrey.
Racheal Astreia, 29, from Fleet, achieved a Grade 7 in her English GCSE programme.
Racheal said: “I work with blind children in a Special Educational Needs school and I really needed to achieve my GCSE English to progress my career. I was out of education a lot when I was younger due to health reasons, so never achieved my English, but when I found out that I could return to study GCSEs for free, it really gave me the encouragement to do it.”
“I can now decide what to do next – I could study towards my Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (QTVI) qualification or specialise in rehabilitation or even go on to a degree.”
Kye Jarred, 18, from Woking was thrilled to finally pass his GCSE English with a Grade 4 at his second attempt. Previously home schooled, Kye said: “Full credit goes to my GCSE tutor, I’d never attempted GCSE level content before. I’m so relieved that I’ve got it.” Kye is continuing his Performing Arts studies at Guildford College and is now able to move on to the Level 3 qualification.
Oliver Bonar, 17, from Guildford, was delighted to pass both his GCSE English with a Grade 5 and GCSE maths with a Grade 4. A keen ice hockey player for Streatham Ice Hockey Club, Olivier will be moving on to the Level 3 Business qualification at Guildford College.
Oliver said: “I’ve already got an apprenticeship lined up with MINI when I finish, so this is just the next step on my journey.”
Josh Sherwin, 26, from Godalming, is finally on track to achieve his ambition of studying BioChemistry at university. Over the past three years, Josh has achieved his GCSE English, a distinction in his Access to Higher Education: Science and now finally a Grade 4 in GCSE maths. Josh has achieved all of this while caring for a family member and said: “I’m going to defer my university place until next year, but I am so happy and glad I’ve finally done it!”
Jennifer Sivyer, 43, from Ash, was celebrating her achievement of a Grade 4 in GCSE maths, as it means she can finally progress to university to study Mental Health Nursing. She will be taking up her place at King’s College London.
Jennifer said: “I have never been so nervous to open something, but I am feeling so happy now.”
Siobhan Tobin, 32, achieved a Grade 8 in GCSE English Online and a Grade 8 in GCSE maths Online. Siobhan is a mum of four and didn’t get her GCSEs the first time round and thought she had better get them under her belt now for employment purposes in the future.
Siobhan said: “I am really really happy and did better than I expected.”
Cheri Ashby, Deputy Chief Executive of Activate Learning, said: “At Activate Learning we have thousands of students receiving their GCSE English and maths results which will open so many opportunities for further study, employment, or career progression.
“Many of our students come to us each year often lacking in confidence and self-belief having not always achieved the grades they are capable of, and this is still particularly true of these learners who experienced massive disruption caused to their learning by the pandemic.
“Which is why I’m delighted to see that as a group we’ve see 576 of our learners improve on their previous grade in English and 642 learners improve on their grade in maths across our group of colleges.
“This year we had more learners coming to us at the lower end of the grade boundaries, who were in need of a grade 4 to progress onto their next opportunity. Through our dedicated approach to teaching and learning, where students receive wrap-around support from staff who work with them individually, building their confidence, developing their knowledge and skills through our Learning Philosophy-based teaching. This is then supplemented with a range of online and AI-assisted technology. Our unique approach to learning enables our students to flourish and achieve the grades to which they aspire.
“On behalf of our Educational Leadership Team, I would like to offer our thanks and appreciation to all our committed teachers and college staff on today’s GCSE achievement and wish our students the best of luck in the next stage of their journey at Activate Learning or beyond.”
Guildford College offers part-time GCSEs in English and maths.
If a person doesn’t have the results they think they could have achieved, Guildford College offers a one-year, full-time programmes for 16-19-year-olds who want to improve their GCSE grades.
Each programme is suited to a student’s level of grades and a range of subject choices are offered. You can find about the STEP, STEP UP and STRIVE GCSE programmes at Guildford College on the college website.
Guildford College also offers a variety of vocational programmes, Higher Education and apprenticeship opportunities.
This year, the college are providing information, advice and guidance via Clearing sessions at Guildford College from GCSE Results Day, and throughout the end of August and September. Tutors and career advisers will be on hand to help anyone who is unsure as to what to do next after GCSEs and can also provide advice on funding and other student support services.
Clearing sessions can be booked on the Activate Learning website.
