Stoke Damerel Community College’s sports hall was buzzing with anticipation as students turned up to receive their A level results.
Among them was Hao Chen Jiang whose results mean he is off to Exeter University to study Computer Science. He will be joined by fellow Year 13 student Scott Hawes who will study for a Masters in Maths.
Walid Yassine, who will be going to Bristol to study Electrical Engineering, paid tribute to the teachers at the college.
“I’m so grateful for their support,” he said. “I will miss the college but I can’t wait to get to Bristol.”
Elle Richards, who joined the college in Year 12, is going to the University of Hull to study Biomedical Science.
“The Sixth Form team are amazing – I’ve had a great time at Stoke Damerel,” she said.
Friends Zoe Vinicombe, Ruby Tagara and Nagina Magar all got their first choice of university place to study, respectively, Law, Psychology and Anthropology, at Plymouth University.
“I’d definitely recommend Stoke Damerel Sixth form,” said Zoe. ”It has a great vibe and there is so much support. I’m so happy I got my first choice and I’m excited to get started.” They will be joined at Plymouth by Jasmine Short who will study Adult Nursing.
Kieran Hewitt is the first student from the college to secure a degree apprenticeship – a fully-funded seven-year programme which will see him qualify with a Masters in Civil Engineering and a job at Hinckley Point.
Laura Robins KS5 learning manager said:
“It is great to see our students’ hard work paying off. I wish them well in their next steps.”
Executive principal Anita Frier said:
“It was lovely to see so many smiling faces and so many of our students getting the results they need to move on to university. They have worked so hard – congratulations to them all.”
Later in the month students, their families and staff at the college celebrated improved GCSE results. Megan Kelley, who gained a Distinction among an impressive set of results, said she was really pleased.
“I worked hard but I did even better than I hoped.”
She will be returning to the college’s Sixth Form to study maths, biology, psychology and geography and hopes to go on to study zoology at university.
Tyler Hartill’s results mean he is going to study biology, chemistry and maths at A level with the intention of becoming a dentist. Holly Rixon is going to do a business administration apprenticeship and said she was so chuffed with her results.
“Thank you to everyone at Stoke Damerel,” said Holly. “I’ve had such good teachers and I’m walking out of this hall with GCSEs – I’m really happy.”
Anita Frier, executive principal, said:
“It’s lovely to be here celebrating improved results – our students worked really hard and it’s wonderful to see so many jubilant faces, well done to them all.”
Year 11 learning manager Steve Gill said:
“Well done to the class of 2018. I know how incredibly hard they have all worked and it’s great to see it paying off. “I’m so proud of them and looking forward to seeing what they achieve next.”
