College celebrates another year of outstanding GCSE results
Students at Brampton College, Hendon – London’s top performing sixth form college since 2001 and third highest-achieving sixth form nationally– are celebrating another year of outstanding GCSE results, with 59.4% 9-7 / A*-A grades (compared to 20.3% nationally in 2018) and 37% 9-8 / A* grades (compared to 10.8% nationally in 2018). As well as A level courses, Brampton offers an intensive one year GCSE programme of study for young people who are transferring from other schools after year 10 to complete their GCSEs or retaking their exams, as well as overseas students planning to integrate into the English education system. Particularly high performing candidates include Shani Boyd and Alex Milchev. Shani is a gifted student who has suffered from chronic fatigue and other health issues which affected her on a daily basis. She missed nearly two years of her previous school and although her family were concerned she would not be able to complete her GCSEs, she has passed with flying colours, receiving an exceptional six grade 9s. Alex transferred from Bulgaria in the summer of 2018 to the English system. Despite difficulties in adjusting to the new curriculum and language, Alex is a maths genius, achieving a 9 in Mathematics and a further two 9s and two 8s. Both of them are looking forward to starting their A levels at Brampton College in September. Brampton’s outstanding results are testament to the college’s comprehensive pastoral support programme as staff recognise that top-quality education must be underpinned by commitment to student wellbeing. The college places an emphasis on understanding each individual student’s academic and emotional needs, delivering programmes that respond to these individual requirements. Before joining Brampton, GCSE students have often faced significant challenges, including high teacher turnover, lack of individual attention or feeling undervalued in a large school. Brampton supports young people who may have found it difficult to achieve in other environments, finding they flourish in a supportive atmosphere with one-to-one support, where they are encouraged to work hard and do their best. The success of Brampton’s approach is evident in this year’s excellent results, with 20.3 of all GCSE grades this year the top mark of 9 (worth more than the previous A* grade) – compared to the national average of 4.3% in 2018. Commenting on the 2019 results, Bernard Canetti, Principal of Brampton College, said, “We are delighted to see that our GCSE students have once again achieved fantastic results. Their success is hugely well-deserved, and it is brilliant to see that all of their hard work has paid off. We are thrilled that most students have decided to stay at the college for their A levels, and we look forward to supporting them over the next two years.” To apply to study GCSEs or A-levels at Brampton College, request further information or arrange an interview, please contact Pam Glenville, Admissions Secretary on 020 8203 5025 or email pam@bramptoncollege.com.
Advice for students after receiving their GCSE results
Deciding what you want to do after your GCSE results can be a tough choice, and you might not even know what career path you want to head down just yet, so making decisions on A Levels and further education can be hugely overwhelming. The key is to keep your options open and throw yourself into everything; nothing needs to be set in stone just yet. Below is some advice to help you navigate your way through this tricky period from Sharon Walpole, Director at www.careermap.co.uk… Gain some hands-on experience As part of your school curriculum you’ll be given the opportunity to do work experience, which usually involves spending a week shadowing members of staff as they go about their jobs. This is a great chance for networking so put some effort into finding a worthwhile placement; think about what sort of work interests you and what kind of environment you might want to work in. Don’t panic if you have no idea what career path you want to take yet, this is the perfect time to try new things out, discover what you like and what’s not right for you. It can sometimes be tricky to secure work experience so make sure you’re flexible and open to trying different things; your placement may not be your dream job but it can give you valuable experience or help you get your foot in the door. Make use of your school’s advice and careers services as well as your family, as they may be able to put you in touch with potential contacts. Remember, to secure the most lucrative opportunities, you must be proactive: make phone calls and email out your CV, for example, as the more positions you apply for the greater your chance of being successful. Throw yourself into all things extra-curricular A great way to develop essential skills for your CV (and personal statement if you end up going to university) is through extra-curricular activities. Whether it’s debating to enhance your communication, or sports to improve your team-working abilities, it all counts. Not only that, but this is also a great opportunity to meet new people, find out what you enjoy and work out where your strengths lie. Take a step back A Levels aren’t for everyone, so don’t feel pressured into staying in school if you already have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. Whilst aspiring doctors and vets will have to get the grades, there are plenty of apprenticeship schemes – from engineering to accounting – available that might be a better fit for you. Apprenticeships and vocational qualifications such as BTECs and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) can be done alongside A Levels, or even instead of, and they focus on the practical side of the working world, meaning that you can put what you already know into action. Apprenticeships even give you the opportunity to be paid around £170 per week, meaning that you can start earning early on, and get a head start into the concept of ‘adult life’ from an early age. Be sure to do your research into all the alternative options out there to find the best choice for you. If you change your mind about higher education later on, you can apply to university with your level 3 NVQ qualification or your BTEC results. Think it through If you’ve decided A Levels are the route you want to take, think about the relevance of your chosen subjects to your future. If you’re unsure what you want to do later on, keep your subjects varied, but if you know which area you want to go in to, then it’s important that you pick subjects relevant to the topic. Employers are crying out for those with more technical skills in maths and sciences as these jobs tend to not be too oversubscribed. Take this into account if you have a flair for these subjects, and perhaps consider a language if this is something you enjoy as it’ll make your CV stand out a little more. More information on what to do following your GCSE results can be found in the Careermap Results Day Guide: careermap.co.uk