Pathways into nursing, teaching, music and more have opened up for students celebrating their GCSE – plus Level 1 and 2 vocational – results.
Among those looking forward to taking their next steps after opening their result papers on Thursday 22 August was 38 year old Kenny Knott.
Kennny already had A levels, a 2:1 history degree and a 15 year career in the army (plus seven in the reserves) under his belt.
But to pursue his dream of becoming a history teacher, he had to go back to education to get the ‘missing piece’ in his qualifications, GCSE maths.
Kenny, who is married with an eight year old daughter, had to juggle family life and work with his studies but it has all paid off – as he discovered when he opened his results on-air during a live radio interview.
He said: “I’m over the moon! To get the grade five I was after is so emotional, it overcame me a little bit. Maths is hard, and it doesn’t get easier – algebra hasn’t changed since my school days.
“I just want to say thank you to Laurence Lennon and the team at Leeds City College, they’ve been amazing.
“I joined the army at a young age, was with the Yorkshire Regiment 15 years, then did my A levels in a year and my history degree. But I want to teach history and I still needed my GCSE maths before I could do my training, so I came here.
“The staff, and especially Laurence, have been absolutely fantastic and were always at hand to help with anything I needed,.”
Currently working as an Army Reserve recruiter, Kenny is now looking forward to starting his teacher training, in Leeds, this September.
Another parent-student, 38 year old Vitor Bonanca, was delighted to achieve a grade 9 in his maths GCSE.
He said: “I have two babies at home and the youngest, who is just four months, was born in the middle of my course so I couldn’t really study there much!
“But my wife supported me a lot with that and I come from a science background, so going to the maths class was kind of a pleasure to me.
“I’m really pleased with my grade – I was expecting a good one, but not necessarily a 9!”
Vitor now plans to do a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
At the other end of the age scale, 14+ Academies students Lara Sweeney and Billy Wilkinson were both celebrating passing all of their GCSEs.
Sixteen year old Billy, who now has his sights on further college studies and then university, said: “I’m really glad I came here; I wouldn’t be who I am today without this college.
“I’ve made a lot of friends and the teachers treat you like an adult and show you respect.”
Lara, also 16, took study leave earlier this year to focus on her revision. She said: “It was the best feeling ever to see that I’d done well; I was up really late the night before stressing, and thought it would be a miracle to pass.
“I’m off to CAPA College in Wakefield now, to focus on my singing, drama and all my music.”
GCSE results day is always a big moment for Leeds Sixth Form College’s Step-Up Pathway students, too. For Constance Mitchell, for example, her grades mean she can now take a step closer to her goal of becoming a nurse by enrolling for a T Level here at Leeds City College.
The 17 year old said: “I’d convinced myself I was going to fail but I did really well and got the grades I needed, so I’m looking forward to doing my T Level at Quarry Hill.”
She also has no hesitation in recommending the Step-Up access programme to anyone: “It’s been really great, I’ve made friends for life here and not just the students, the staff as well. It’s been a really good experience.
“Step-Up is like a second chance and a reminder that your first GCSE results aren’t the be-all and end-all, there are options – like this – to fall back on.”
ESOL student Yulia Sakhno meanwhile, who moved to Leeds after fleeing the war in Ukraine, had mixed fortunes, passing her maths while failing her English.
But she was still grateful for her college experience, and full of gratitude for her teachers. She said: “Starting life in a new country was challenging, but I knew that improving my English and gaining recognized qualifications were key to finding work.
“That’s why I joined the Maths GCSE course here. Although I already have a strong background in maths from my education in Ukraine, the course was still very useful. It helped me understand the differences in approaches between the UK and Ukrainian systems, while also improving my English, especially in mathematical terminology.
“Having this GCSE certification is an important step toward building a better future here.”
Find out more
Our Level 3 students have been sharing their dreams for the future after celebrating their final results.
T Level and BTEC students, along with A levels students at Leeds Sixth Form College (LSFC), received their final grades on Thursday 15 August.
For many, the day marked a chance to relax and reflect after years of hard work, and – at Park Lane campus – to talk about their next steps with TV, radio and newspaper teams.
Digital and IT T Level student Loukas Arthington was one of a number who will be carrying on their training through a degree apprenticeship.
Loukas said he was ‘really happy’ to have gained a distinction in his T Level. Looking forward to taking up his apprenticeship with Leeds Beckett University, he explained the appeal: “I’ll be getting paid while doing it so not having to get in debt, while also being paid, is going to be good!”
Our new Students Union President, Shaik Mohammed Qasim, meanwhile was pleased to receive a merit in his Level 3 BTEC in Aviation.
Shaik is still considering a future that sees him land his dream job, as a pilot. For the next few years, though, he is going to focus on working and developing his SU role and interest in politics.
He said: “I’m extremely happy with my result, I’ve really been putting the work in so I got the reward.
“Now I’m working as the SU President here and that’s what I intend to do next year, run for a second year in the elections and hopefully win.”
Health, plus Education and Early Years T Level students, meanwhile, came into Quarry Hill campus to celebrate their results.
Leah Griffiths’ distinction in her Health T Level – which includes a placement in a hospital or healthcare setting – means she has secured a place at the University of Leeds, where she will study adult nursing.
Reflecting on her course and time with Leeds City College, she said: “It’s been absolutely amazing, it’s such a good opportunity to learn what you actually want to do.”
That was a view echoed by Patryk Aniolkowski, who achieved a distinction in his T Level Education and Childcare course. Patryk said: “I most enjoyed going to Spain for a two week placement where we had the opportunity to teach in a Spanish school.”
A level students at LSFC also had a great day, with Toby Oughton claiming ‘bragging rights for life’ after becoming one of our very first students to secure a place at Oxford University.
The 18 year old celebrated his achievement – secured with As in Philosophy and Psychology and a B in Fine Art – with a shout of joy and a lap of the Park Lane campus.
He said: “I’m so unbelievably happy, I’ve been so stressed for the last few months.
“It’s not been easy and there’s been a lot of work, but it paid off. I‘m going to Oxford and I’m one of the first from here to do so – so I get bragging rights for life!
“I will be getting some friends together and having a drink to celebrate.”
He is now looking forward to starting at Oxford, where he will study philosophy and theology, this autumn.
Others celebrating included Dawud Fiaz, whose results – two As and an A* – mean he will be heading to Kings College London later this year to study social sciences.
Fellow A level student Jason Cheung, meanwhile, achieved As in History, Geography and Maths and will now study geology at the University of Leeds. He said: “It has been a great two years and I’ve met some inspiring teachers, especially my geography teacher who inspired me to go down this career path.
“Great people, great place!”
Find out more