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Eastleigh College recognised for excellence in GCSE re-sit results

Eastleigh College has been recognised for excellence in supporting learners who need to re-sit English and maths GCSEs after leaving school, and has been shortlisted for the Times Education Supplement’s 2020 FE Awards in the category of Outstanding GCSE resits provision. 

The Times Education awards recognise outstanding contributions and achievements from individuals and institutions from across the further education sector.

Last year, Eastleigh College excelled with GCSE outcomes well above the national average, and achieved over double the national average for maths. This is in addition to providing high quality professional and technical education and training at various levels, via both courses and apprenticeships. Industry areas are broad-ranging and include professions as such accountancy, HR, built-environment and dental nursing, as well as construction industries, hairdressing, motor vehicle, beauty therapy, care, catering, tourism and public services.

Paul Cox, Chief Executive and Principal Designate, said: “We are delighted that the college has received this recognition for the quality of our teaching and learning, as well as our superb outcomes last summer. We support school-leavers who still need to achieve GCSEs English, maths, or both subjects, alongside their professional and technical education and training.

“We have a dedicated team of English and maths teachers who teach in a way that engages learners by using a variety of innovative approaches and techniques that truly inspire. We’re very proud of our learners who work hard to achieve such great GCSE results each summer, allowing them to continue to thrive whether this be with us, at university, an apprenticeship or full time work.”

Seventeen year-old Etienne Nichols is one student who gained a maths GCSE qualification at Eastleigh College last summer. He said: “I want to pursue a career in engineering with a Higher Apprenticeship so was gutted when I didn’t get my maths at school. I applied for night school at Eastleigh to give me a boost in maths while studying at sixth form, but Eastleigh College were super supportive so I changed my plans in the end. They offered me a place giving me the opportunity to retake my GCSE maths while studying engineering.”

Etienne also opted to take extra classes in the evenings. “Some days I didn’t get home until 10pm,” he explained, “It was worth it though. I was given the opportunity to take a higher paper and got a grade 5 in Higher Maths as well as my engineering qualification. I felt so relieved and amazed. All my hard work payed of in the end.”

The winners of The Times Education Awards will be revealed at a gala awards evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London in March, and Tes FE editor, Stephen Exley, said: “Excellent practice exists right across the further education sector, and those shortlisted for the awards are the cream of the crop. Our judges were extremely impressed with the calibre of entries. To be shortlisted is an extraordinary achievement.”