Students and staff at City College Plymouth have celebrated outstanding GCSE results with an overall pass rate of 98 per cent.
Nationally, pass rates for GCSE maths and English have taken a big drop compared to last year, but students at City College have excelled despite the huge disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with some students sitting exams for the first time.
Across England only 20 per cent of students achieved a grade 9-4 in maths, placing the college significantly above the national picture with its students bucking the trend by achieving 28%.
The college’s inclusive learning environment welcomes students of all ages to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. The results achieved by the college’s adult students were particularly impressive with an overall pass rate in English of 100 per cent.
Many of the students will be progressing onto higher level courses at the college with some having gained their GCSE qualification as an entry requirement to study a degree. Others are now looking forward to enhanced job opportunities having gained these essential qualifications.
Some of the inspirational stories of courage and commitment to learning are featured here.
GCSE results day was extra-special for Esme Belcher from Keyham who achieved a grade 4 in English and collected the result on her birthday.
Shortly after enrolling to study GCSE English and maths Esme, who turned 23 on results day, learned she was pregnant.
Having worked out that her baby would arrive shortly after sitting her exams, Esme decided to continue with her plan to gain these vital qualifications, having missed out on C grades whilst at school. However, this plan was thrown up in the air when Esme’s daughter was born 12 weeks early.
A few weeks later and confident that baby Evelynn-Rose was making good progress, Esme decided to continue with one of her courses, and the college switched her to online learning. She juggled her studies between her visits to the hospital, where Evelynn had to stay for 80 days.
Esme said:
“Evelynn needed a lot of support to begin with and spent a long time in hospital. When she was first born, I contacted my lecturer to say I wouldn’t be coming back as Evelynn had arrived. However, I eventually decided to continue with English after discussing my options with the college.
“The staff did a lot to make it possible for me to continue, and having seen that I’ve passed with a grade 4 feels brilliant. A lot of the past year has been a blur, but somehow I managed to find enough time between being with Evelynn to get the work done. I just want to say thank you to the College for putting everything in place for me to continue.”
Despite a lengthy career with the Army and having served in conflicts around the world, even 49-year-old Wayne Hutchinson from Moor View still found the prospect of returning to education a little daunting.
He explained:
“I was terrible at school. Belfast wasn’t the easiest place to grow up and I saw the Army as a way to see the world. Whilst I’m proud of the things I achieved with the Army, I had a feeling that there was something else more suited to me. My wife is a Royal Navy nurse and hearing what she does has made me realise I want to be doing something like that.
“I will be doing an Access to HE Diploma in Health and Social Care from September but to ease myself back into education, I thought I would start with functional skills English and GCSE maths. Depending on what path I choose after my Access course, I might need a grade 4 or above so it made sense to do it now.”
Hutch was really pleased to achieve a grade 5, which was the highest grade he could have received having sat the foundation paper.
Hutch added:
“We had a really good group and Sean, our lecturer, he’s an excellent teacher. I did find it a bit daunting at first. I was worried about being so much older than your average student, but it’s a really welcoming environment and you don’t feel out of place. They do a lot to build your confidence so if you are worried about returning to education, don’t be as they will help you at every step. I have had a really positive experience at City College.”
Brother and sister Mia and Adam Whyte from St Budeaux have found themselves in the rare situation of sitting GCSE maths at the same time. Having both previously missed out on a grade 4/C, they decided to study together as they progressed through the course.
Mia, who is 22 and in the final stage of a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Counter Fraud Investigation, said passing GCSE maths was the final hurdle for her current educational journey. Despite her successful academic record, which includes a degree, a triple star distinction in her Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma, and passes in all other GCSE subjects, Mia has always struggled with maths.
Mia said:
“It took a few years for someone to realise that my struggle with maths was the result of dyscalculia. This was my fifth attempt at GCSE maths, which I needed to pass as part of my apprenticeship and it really felt like it was now or never. Luckily, not having this qualification hasn’t had too much impact on my education or career, but I’ve always been conscious of the fact that it could. I might one day do a master’s and not having maths could prevent this”
Adam, 17, who has been resitting maths as part of a full-time study programme, is hoping to start a Level 3 Business Diploma in September.
Mia and Adam both had something to smile about on results day, with both achieving a grade 4. Mia added:
“I’ve found the college really supportive. Maths will always be a struggle due to dyscalculia and it could have been really easy to just give up, but the team at the college do everything they can to keep you motivated. They won’t give up on you.
“If you are an adult, you shouldn’t feel concerned about studying at the college. They have people there of all ages, all backgrounds and it’s a very friendly place to study.”
To find out more about studying GCSEs at City College Plymouth, visit cityplym.ac.uk.
