First choice for GCSEs

Students are celebrating coming to Bedford College to take their GCSEs in the Sixth Form and University Centre.

For Naomi Dawson it was a life-changing choice. Having moved from Hertfordshire to Gamlingay on the Beds border and distressed by her parents’ divorce, she missed GCSEs at 16. After a year at Bedford College she is a new successful young woman with 6 GCSEs with Grades A in English and Sociology and A * in Business. Getting her Maths GCSE was an added bonus: “It was a miracle I got Maths”. 

Mum’s the word: Her mother Sarah Rowlands and sister Charmaine, aged 13, joined her at the results day at Bedford College. Said Sarah: “The College helped Naomi 100% - it has turned her whole life around. The staff and Naomi were a great partnership. She is a different girl - I am so proud.”

Chris Curley did his research to find an FE College Sixth Form and on reading the review of Outstanding Ofsted Bedford College he now travels  for nearly two hours from Kettering every day. He achieved 4 Grade As in Business, General Studies, Sociology and Maths and a B in English.  “I left school at 16 and had various jobs which made me realise I had to get back into education,” said Chris, aged 20. GCSEs are FREE at Bedford College for those aged up to 23.

“And the staff here are just excellent.”

Chhya Shahota, aged 17 and her family were at their wits end when they moved back to Bedford from London because of work, and found no local schools could match her earlier GCSEs course. In desperation they rang Bedford College, not to them the obvious first choice but they found it was the right choice.

Mum’s the word: Chhya’s mother Kelly said: “When I spoke to Bedford College they were so helpful I was so relieved.” 

Now Chhya, of Clapham, has  6 GCSEs to show for her year’s work and is now back on track to take A Levels and head towards a career in the law.

Brilliant Santos, aged 19, came to the UK from the Philippines and now has five GCSEs include Psychiatry at Grade A and Maths and Media at B. She originally started work but realised she need UK qualifications to further her career. “The tutors at Bedford College were so helpful in guiding me in which courses to take,” said Brilliant of Bedford.

Overcoming years of ill-health and hospitalisation, Sasha Talboys, aged 19 of Stotfold has achieved four Grade As, a B and C GCSE.

After a false start in September 2009 which was cut short by a burst appendix and months of complications, this on top of years of earlier health problems, Sasha was persuaded to try again at Bedford College last September. After a year she is now a A student  - she is now thinking of an apprenticeship or A Levels:  “I have loved all the courses here at Bedford College.” 

Sixteen - grown up enough to make life choices?

Sixteen-year-olds face major life changing decisions -  leave school, get a job, try for A Levels, borrow for University? At Bedford College there are all the answers under one roof.

Whether you want to get into the world of work - via one of our many apprenticeships - or upgrade your GCSEs and choose from a wide range of A Level options in our Sixth Form Centre or opt for a vocational BTEC qualification, we can help.

Because we know what employers, and universities, want from young people, we insist on a good basic education - so if you haven’t got GCSE Maths and English when you join us, we will make sure you study them here. Similarly with the BTEC courses there is an obligatory Functional Skills element to make sure your Maths, English and IT Skills are up to scratch.

There is no getting away from it - the Government national standard for GCSEs is 5 passes at grades A, B or C and that includes Maths and English. If at 16 you have not attained those qualifications at school then you are below the national average and that will set you back in the future. 

Come to Bedford College and take responsibility for your future - we will help you - don’t take our word for - talk to the 18,000 students who every year sign up for success at Bedford College. Don’t be put off by the large numbers, the company you keep to learn with will be small enough to count, but large enough to be broaden your horizons. 

Learning doesn’t stop when you leave your teens, GCSE resits are FREE up to the age of 24 - so if think you have taken the wrong route, swing over to fast lane at Bedford College. We will get you back on track.