Inspire College is celebrating GCSE success with an overall pass rate of 63% for maths and 42% for English, in the first year of formal examinations after two years of teacher assessed grades.

Some students celebrated particular achievements, such as 100% attendance, or  grades that allow them to enrol on future courses.

Most Inspire College candidates failed or achieved a grade 3 (equivalent to a Grade ‘D’ in the old marking system) in their previous years of education, and some did not attend school. Some face difficult barriers to learning such as learning difficulties, disabilities, anxiety, and social and emotional issues.  The success is all the more celebrated as this is the first time these students have ever sat a formal examination.

Charlie, who achieved a Grade 6 in English, said, “With my English, I got a Grade 6 which I’m genuinely surprised at, but with revising and putting effort in I managed to do really well, and I passed. I’m genuinely proud that I managed to get this and I’m going to go on to do a Level 3 Computing course.

“My tutor, Leana Sherwood, was really good in helping me. She gave me extra materials to revise, helped me with things I didn’t really understand – really helpful, and a nice, skilled tutor.”

Leana Sherwood, Inspire College’s lead tutor for maths and English, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our students and the Maths and English team, I was over the moon when the results came in. We know we have already started opening windows of opportunity for our young people. This year is really special as these students have never sat a formal examination after two years of teacher assessed grades.”

Marita, mother of student Charlotte, celebrated her daughter getting Grade 4 in both her maths and English, and the support she had from the college. “I’m over the moon with her results. Inspire have been like a lifeline – the full support that she needed. She’s turned around and she’s like a different child. I have to give credit to her tutor, Donna, because if it wasn’t for Donna pushing her and believing in her, then it would be a different story.”

Ian Bond, Inspire Learning director, added: “This is a great achievement by our learners, and we are really proud of how well they have performed in their GCSE re-sits. Inspire Learning is determined to drive up the outcomes for all our learners and we are ambitious for every one of them.

These brilliant results demonstrate just how well our college students can do when they get the right level of support and encouragement from our excellent team of hard-working, dedicated and highly professional tutors. With previous results putting us well above the national average we hope these results put us above the benchmark when they are published next year for the first time since the pandemic.”

Inspire College is currently enrolling school leavers and young people aged 16-19 across their Nottinghamshire bases in a staggering number of inspiring courses, including new qualifications in Sport and Digital Promotion for Business – and students earn up to £100 a month just for studying.

The college, part of Nottinghamshire’s broader Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries umbrella, not only offers qualifications for young people aged 16-19, but focuses on gaining key skills for life – including the opportunity to re-sit GCSEs or work towards a recognised Maths and English qualification. So, for those who didn’t get the grades this year, Inspire College can provide support in resits.

The varied programme is offered by Inspire College from 9 specialist centres across the county in Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Hucknall, Eastwood, Stapleford, Worksop, Retford and two bases in Newark, including a brand-new centre at the Buttermarket, which opens in Autumn 2022.

Inspire College was also shortlisted for the Outstanding GCSE Resits Provision at the 2020 Tes Further Education Awards, with previous re-sit pass rates scoring above the national average.

Opportunities within Inspire College starting this September include:

• A brand-new Level 2 Digital Promotion for Business course, running at the Mansfield base and Newark Buttermarket
• Another brand-new Level 1 award in Sport
• AIM Awards Level 1 and 2 Employability qualifications, including Customer Service and Hospitality
• Aim Awards Level 1 and 2 in Personal and Social Development
• City & Guilds Level 1,2 and 3 Health and Social Care
• City & Guilds Level 1 and 2 in Hospitality
• City & Guilds Level 1 and 2 in Bricklaying and Construction
• AIM Awards Level 1 and 2 Carpentry and Joinery
• Traineeships including work preparation and employability training, a maths and English qualification (if the student doesn’t already have this) and a high-quality work experience placement with a local employer.

Students also have the opportunity to go on trips, volunteer with local projects, and gain key interpersonal and confidence skills alongside their studies.

More information on courses, locations and enrolling can be found on the Inspire website at inspireculture.org.uk/college or you can speak to their Learning team by calling 0115 804 3611 or emailing [email protected]