Students at Bracknell and Wokingham College are celebrating today after collecting their successful GCSE exam results.
Over 96% of students taking maths and English GCSEs at Bracknell and Wokingham College achieved a pass in this year’s exams. English achieved 4.7% above the national average. Maths achieved 1.7% above the national average.
Many of the college’s GCSE students are learners who have resat maths, English or both to continue in education or progress their careers.
This includes mature students who need these GCSEs to progress in the workplace, learners who may have missed the opportunity to go to university and now want to study at degree level, alongside part-time students who have studied GCSEs through evening classes.
The college also achieved the following successes in GCSE subjects for their one-year, full-time programmes for 16-19-year-olds who want to improve their GCSE grades:
- Biology achieved a 100% pass rate, over 10% above the national average.
- Business achieved a 100% pass rate, 7.5% above the national average.
- Sociology achieved a 100% pass rate, 3.5% above the national average.
Hannah O’Neill, Group Director of Academic Studies Faculty at Activate Learning, said: “Today is an opportunity to recognise the commitment, resilience and perseverance our learners have shown throughout their studies. Their results reflect not only academic achievement, but also the personal growth and confidence they have developed along the way.
“Every student has followed their own unique journey, and behind every set of results is an extraordinary story of determination and ambition. Seeing our learners reach this milestone makes today a moment of real celebration; every learner should feel proud of their progress.
“As they move on to their next step, whether that is A Levels, T Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships, training or employment, we are excited to see what they achieve next. The future is full of possibilities, and we are confident they will continue to thrive.
“For any students who are considering their options, our teams are available to provide advice, guidance and support to help them make informed decisions about their next steps.
“I would also like to thank our exceptional teachers, leaders, support colleagues and partners. Our staff care deeply about what they do and are committed to creating opportunities for every learner to succeed. Through their dedication, expertise and encouragement, they make a lasting difference to the lives of our students and the communities we serve, and we are proud to celebrate these achievements alongside them today.”
Veli Albert Kallio, aged 61, from Bracknell, has been studying GCSE English at Bracknell and Wokingham College, achieving a grade 7. Originally from Finland, he previously studied ESOL at the college. He decided to study English to assist him with his Climate Change research.
Veli said: “Studying English GCSE at the college has helped me to express myself and learn rhetorical techniques, which I hadn’t learnt at school in Finland.
“Learning these techniques has helped me to grow in confidence and persuade people in my keynote speeches in my work as Vice President, for the Sea Research Society, where I do research on Climate Change.
“My teachers gave me good support, exercises and materials to help assist me with my learning.”
Veli is now going to update a previous a research project in Ethnoclimatology.
Sin Yu Ying, also known as Charlotte, aged 17, from Wokingham, has been studying a full-time one-year GCSE Strive STEM programme at Bracknell and Wokingham College and is celebrating achieving a grade 7,7 in Combined Science, a grade 7 in Maths and a grade 4 in English.
Charlotte said: “I’m really happy as I got the results that I was expecting.
“I repeated my GCSEs at college because last year, I got a 3 for my English and 6,5 for Combined Science, so I wanted to get my grades up so that I could do Chemistry and Maths at A Level and my results now enable me to do that.
“Every teacher is really friendly. They help you so much. They are free to answer every student’s questions.
“I’m a bit nervous about starting A Levels as it will be harder, but I’ll have more time to revise and hopefully I’ll get to study with some of my friends.”
Charlotte is now progressing to A Levels in Chemistry, Maths and Physics at the college, having successfully achieved the GCSE qualifications needed to continue their education, with the aim of studying either Biochemistry or Chemistry at university afterwards.
Laila Foxen, aged 18, from Bracknell, has been studying the GCSE Strive STEM full-time programme at Bracknell and Wokingham College and is celebrating achieving a grade 9,8 in Combined Science, with grade 5s in English, maths and Statistics.
Laila said: “I’m happy that my Combined Science results were so high, as I was expecting a 7 or 8.
“I did my GCSEs at college as I moved from Zimbabwe to the UK in 2024.
“I’d like to thank my teachers for always checking on me to see if I was doing okay.
“I’m excited to be starting my A Levels at college.”
Laila is now progressing to A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, having successfully achieved the GCSE qualifications needed to continue their education or career.
Supported Foundation Tier 3 student, Daniel Flannigan, 21, from Crowthorne is celebrating after improving his GCSE English by two grades, to a grade 4, and his maths by one grade to a grade 5.
“I feel very proud of my results. I enjoyed doing my English and maths at college. My teachers are very nice. They supported me by giving me useful tips and help whenever I needed it.
“I’m super excited to be stating a Pre-Internship Programme at the college!”
Daniel will now progress to a Pre-Internship Programme, where he will work in in the college’s learning companies to help develop work skills in different areas.
ESOL student Truong Dinh, 17, from Bracknell, achieved a grade 4 in maths. He came over from Vietnam last year.
Truong said: “I’m excited about my results. I was expecting a 3 but got a 4!
“My teachers supported me when I had questions. My teachers were friendly. They helped me when I didn’t understand.”
Truong will now progress to study GCSE English and maths at the college.
Bracknell and Wokingham College offers part-time GCSEs in English and maths alongside one-year, full-time programmes for 16-19-year-olds who want to improve their GCSE grades.
Each programme is suited to a student’s level of grades and a range of subject choices are offered. You can find about the STEP, STEP UP and STRIVE GCSE programmes at Bracknell and Wokingham College on the college website.
Bracknell and Wokingham College offer a wide range of A Level subjects and vocational programmes.
The college also works closely with employers to provide apprenticeship opportunities via Activate Apprenticeships.
This year, Bracknell and Wokingham College is offering information, advice and guidance through Clearing appointments from GCSE Results Day and throughout the end of August and September. Tutors and careers advisers will be available to support anyone who is unsure about their next steps after GCSEs and can also provide advice on funding and student support services.
Clearing appointments can be booked via the Activate Learning website.
