A recent national newspaper report highlighted the fact that universities are now taking GCSE as well as A-level grades into account when deciding between candidates, so it’s never been more important to ensure you study the right subjects and achieve good grades in your GCSEs.
The GCSE qualification is an excellent foundation for further study or training – which is why it is so highly valued by universities, as well as other training providers, and by employers.
Here at City of Westminster College we offer the core subjects at GCSE, including English Language and English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Many of our students ‘top up’ with us – to improve existing grades or acquire a GCSE qualification they need to move on to the next level in their training. We welcome many adult learners as well as students who have come to us straight from school.
Here are two case studies of students who have achieved excellent results in this year’s GCSEs – putting them on track for future success
Qahira Hayat, 18, from Westminster is originally from Afghanistan but moved about a lot during her schooling because of her father’s career. Having spent three years in the UK school system previously, she returned again in 2007 with her family but was too late to join a local school. Having missed out on a year’s education, she joined City of Westminster College in 2009 to take her GCSEs. Now Qahira is the proud possessor of A grades in English Language, English Literature, Biology and Mathematics. She was awarded A* grades in Physics and Chemistry.
Qahira says: “I’m very happy and can’t believe I got these grades! I worked very hard and, because I’d lost a year of my schooling, I had to be very serious in my studies. Now I plan to take A-levels here and would like to go on and study medicine.”
A mature student, 43, from Westminster came to the UK from China in 2003 and decided that she wanted to train as a teacher. In order to get a teaching qualification she needed two vital GCSEs, so she enrolled at City of Westminster College in 2009. A year on she has achieved A in her English Language and A* in Mathematics.
She says: “I would like to become a teacher at a sixth-form school or college. I am not surprised at my Maths grade because the subject is no problem for me, but I’m definitely surprised about my English! The staff here are very helpful - particularly my English teacher.”