Buxton & Leek College has announced a number of remarkable GCSE maths & English student success stories, following its autumn exam results being released.
November 2020 was the first opportunity for GCSE students to resit an exam after being previously awarded a ‘centre assessed grade’ when the summer GCSE exam season was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Lauren Frith from Ashbourne, a GCSE maths student at the College who achieved a grade 4 said:
“Despite all the covid restrictions and lessons being online, we had the opportunity to retake our GCSE papers in College.
“This helped my confidence as I sat an actual exam as mine had been cancelled in the summer. I am so happy I achieved the goal I was looking for.”
During the January GCSE results day, the College held a virtual ‘success stories live video chat’ for those students that were eager to find out their grades, rather than wait for them to be delivered in the post.
Amy Lee, from Buxton, celebrated over live video link, after finding out that she had achieved a grade 4 pass in her GCSE maths. She admitted that she had been ‘ready to give up’ after previous attempts.
“After last year’s centre assessed grades, I lost all confidence,” said Amy.
“But when I started maths at Buxton & Leek College, I immediately regained that confidence. Lyndsey Mollison, my tutor helped me get back on track by recapping the basics, and the way that she taught me went straight into my head.
“I cannot believe I have upgraded 40-50 marks on my last maths exam, I can do anything now.”
BLC is highly regarded nationally for its GCSE maths and English results. Last year the College was shortlisted at the Tes FE Awards for its “outstanding GCSE resits provision”.
Bailey Salt, from Leek, said he was “buzzing” on results day to find out he had passed his GCSE English with a grade 5. Bailey sat the exam on the day of his birthday in November.
“This result is going to be great for my career and job opportunities,” said Bailey. “It is some birthday present.”
Calling his tutor, Joe Lawler “top” Bailey said: “Joe’s always been there for me since the first day he taught me a couple of years ago.”
Eve Hibbitt, from Matlock, who achieved a pass in both English and maths also praised the College for their support:
“Buxton & Leek College has helped me so much to achieve my maths and English grades. Thanks to the amazing departments I have now passed maths with a Grade 4 and English with a Grade 5.”
Alison Ivins, Senior Curriculum Leader, English & Maths at Buxton & Leek College, said:
“I am absolutely in awe of what our students have achieved in the November GCSE series.
“After a very difficult end to the last academic year, with lockdowns, remote learning, the cancellation of exams, and all the other stresses and strains of COVID-19 induced issues and disruption to their lives, many students started with us in September pretty demoralised and lacking in confidence after their experiences.
“To not achieve the pass they had hoped for in their centre assessed grades was a real frustration for them, and left students wondering what their next steps would be to achieve their goals.
“As a College, we decided that we wanted to try and rectify this for our students and felt that they should all be offered the opportunity to sit their GCSE exams in the November series, and given the chance to show their true ability.
“In a short space of time, the English and maths team worked tirelessly with a blended learning approach, booster and revision sessions, and one to one support for students, building their confidence and skills in the run-up to November.
“I am very proud of our tutors and students, and it makes me immensely satisfied to know that a large number of our students can now put their GCSEs behind them and focus on their future career goals.”
For more information about retaking your GCSE maths & English, visit here.
Watch a video with maths Lecturer Lyndsey Mollison here: