Wiltshire College & University Centre is celebrating another strong year of results, with a 97 per cent pass rate in its vocational technical Level 3 qualifications and a string of individual student success stories.
Many subjects achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, including Beauty, Health, Performing Arts, Motorsport Engineering, Life Sciences, and Sport and Equine. Visual Arts, Public Services and Travel and Tourism also saw 99 per cent of students passing.
T Level courses — which combine classroom and practical study with 315 hours of industry placement — saw a 100 per cent pass rate among students completing their two-year programmes.
For many, results day was one of relief and celebration. At the Chippenham campus, Engineering and Manufacturing T Level student Harrison Coles from Trowbridge was delighted with a Distinction after completing his placement at Knorr-Bremse in Melksham.
“It’s been two years of a lot of hard work but the exam felt like it went well, so I’m very happy,” he said. “Taking on a T Level placement student exposes employers to the next level of engineers and it’s a great chance to get experience for the student. This course has given me the industry knowledge that I needed to apply for my engineering apprenticeship with Apetito and hopefully will benefit me throughout it.”
Ella Gould, 18, from Chippenham, also gained a Distinction in Engineering and Manufacturing after a placement with Penta ESP in Corsham. “I’m really happy and proud, as I worked hard,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to do as well as I did. I really enjoyed the course and learnt a lot. The work placement… was the best thing for me, and now I’m going to study a Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship with them at Chippenham in September.”
Business student Ruby Martin, 18, from Calne, was awarded a Distinction and is heading to Bournemouth University to study Marketing and Digital Strategy. “I’m so happy, because now I get to go to university,” she said. “It proves that the impossible is possible. The course has really helped because you need to understand a business as a whole and why they do what they do with marketing too.”
At the Trowbridge campus, Health Science T Level students collected Distinctions and Merits after completing extensive hands-on placements. Tiegan Painter, 18, from Melksham, achieved a Distinction after placements at a care home in Melksham and at Chippenham Hospital. “It’s insane,” she said. “I’ve not just been sat reading out of a book, I’ve been getting out into placements for over 300 hours… I got to see it for myself sooner rather than later.”
Others celebrated equally hard-earned success, including Paige Jackson from Warminster, who earned a Merit after her placement at the Royal United Hospital in Bath; Izzy Wallis, 18, from Melksham, who will study Midwifery at UWE; and Chelsea Stephens, 19, from Westbury, who plans to study paediatric medicine after a gap year.
Charliann Perry, 19, from Trowbridge, said her healthcare placements helped boost her confidence: “It really helped my confidence because before I didn’t have a lot, but doing all the practicals really helped.”
Deputy Principal Curriculum & Quality Jo Grenfell said: “It is really exciting to see pass rates improving and all of the staff here are absolutely delighted for the students because we have seen at first-hand how much effort they have put in. It’s wonderful seeing them taking the next steps… knowing that their time here has equipped them for that next step.”
For more information about courses at Wiltshire College & University Centre, visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk.
Pictured: Engineering students at Chippenham with their results
Pictured: Engineering and Manufacturing T Level student Ella Gould, 18, from Chippenham,
gained a Distinction
Pictured: Business T Level student Ruby Martin, 18, from Calne, gained a Distinction
Pictured: T Level Health students Charlie Stevens, left, Izzy Wallis, Paige Jackson,
Charlieann Perry and Tiegan Painter celebrate at Trowbridge
Pictured: Business students at Chippenham with their results
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