Buzzing!’ Students celebrate GCSE success

Our students are preparing for the next stage of their educational journeys after finding out their GCSE results.

Thousands of learners at Leeds City College and Leeds Sixth Form College discovered how they had fared in their exams on Thursday 24 August.

They were all facing a tough task due to a return to pre-pandemic grading levels, plus the ongoing repercussions of the Covid-19 lockdown periods.

Despite those challenges, many had reason to cheer – including 14+ Academies student Megan Zina.

Megan is looking forward to studying Musical Theatre at our Quarry Hill campus after achieving a mixture of 6 and 5 grades in English Language, English Literature, Foundation Science and Foundation Maths.

‘The teachers are what make it’

She said: “I’m buzzing off the walls because I honestly wasn’t expecting these results.

“The teachers are what make it here, and all the trips we went on. I remember the second day I was here we went to Go Ape and it was just the best, all the teachers got involved.

“14+ has helped me so much this year and it’s helped me get these results. I actually came here a year late, at the beginning of Year 11, and everyone, all the teachers, were so, so welcoming.”

And she had these words for anyone considering applying for a place at the 14+ Academies: “Just do it! You can be yourself, you can wear your own clothes, and you can really express yourself.”

Zuhal sets her sights on Oxford

Zuhal Akhundzada is a step closer to fulfilling her dream of studying medicine at the University of Oxford, after excelling at her GCSEs.

Zuhal, who enjoyed her time on Leeds Sixth Form College’s Step-Up Pathway, picked up 6 and 7 grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

She said: “I’m so happy. I tried so much and did lots of studying and got the results I wanted, so from this September I will be starting A levels in three sciences.

“I’m from Afghanistan and I’ve only been in the UK for less than two years, so English was a bit hard for me, but the sciences were fantastic.” She also credited her teachers at Leeds Sixth Form College’s Step-Up Pathway for their support: “The tutors helped us get these results.”

Trainee teacher has wind in his sails

Leeds City College student Kevin Ndlovu, meanwhile, will start his teacher training at Huddersfield University with a spring in his step after getting the two 5 grades he needed in Combined Science.

He said: “I got exactly what I wanted for my teacher training so I’m very happy about that. It’s been a very good experience here, I’ve enjoyed coming to class, making new friends and everything.”

.Words of hope

There was, unfortunately, also disappointment on results day for some students who didn’t get what they were hoping for.  Executive Principal of Leeds City College, Bill Jones, however is urging those learners not to be disheartened.

He said: “Don’t be too disappointed if you didn’t get the grades you wanted; reflect on them but take action as soon as you can to talk to somebody – talk to your teachers and to our staff and we can get you on track as soon as possible.”