STUDENTS and staff celebrated in the sunshine as Wiltshire College & University Centre saw a 96 per cent pass rate in this year’s vocational technical Level 3 qualifications.

Many courses had a 100 per cent pass rate, including Animal Management, Equine, Travel and Tourism, Motorsport and Art and Design.

At T Level, which combines classroom and practical study with 315 hours of industry placement, the college saw 94 per cent of students passing at the end of their two year course, with 100 per cent in Digital, Business, Land-Based Engineering and Midwifery.

There were beaming smiles everywhere as students prised open their results envelopes to bring their anxious wait to an end.

At the Salisbury campus T Level Health student Lauren Bueno de Mesquita, 18, from Warminster, was celebrating not only a Distinction but a new job.

“The result is amazing. I really, really wasn’t expecting it at all. I’ve had to put a lot of hard work in over the past two years,” she said.

“The course was challenging because there was so much to learn and the placements at Salisbury District Hospital were tough at times, but so worth it.”

She starts back at the hospital next week as a pharmacy support worker. “While on my placement I decided I wanted to do laboratory work and I saw the job on the NHS website,” she said.
“I mentioned the placement at the interview and they were really happy that I had that experience. That’s what helped me to get in, I think. Now I’m really excited about starting.”

T Level Management and Administration students Brook Higgs and Elizabeth Love, both 18, were delighted with Merits.

“I’m really pleased, it’s what we need for a lot of jobs and apprenticeships that we want so I’m excited,” said Brooke, from Gillingham.

Elizabeth, from Bourton, added: “I’ve been applying for a lot of different roles likes sales representative or administration work, anything that looks nice. The course has helped because we’ve researched a lot of different companies and now I can use all of that knowledge and put it into a real-life situation.”

Brooke said apart from the insight into the business world, the course has left her with a new network of friends. “We’ve made a really close group of friends and that has been great,” she said.

Fellow student Oliver Spicer, 18, from Bourton was pleased with his Merit. “I don’t know what I want to do yet I’m still thinking,” he said. “I liked the course and I’ve made a lot of good friends.”

At the Chippenham campus, where students achieved a 98.2 per cent pass rate, Ezbon Colaco was pleased with his Merit in T Level in Digital Support Services. The 18-year-old, from Chippenham, is going on to study Cyber Security in Bath. “I expected a pass or Merit but got a Merit which was good, I’m very grateful,” said Ezbon, who said his time at college had been fun.

Fellow Digital Support Services students Ben Smith, 19, from Devizes, Rory Davis, 17, from Chippenham and Harry Roberts, 20, from Chippenham, were delighted to have passed. Rory is off to Nottingham University and Harry will be starting an apprenticeship while Ben is still deciding on his next step. “When I did work experience, I did quality control which was fun,” he said.

Summer Weaving, 18, from Devizes, was excited at passing her T Level in Early Years Development. “I’m very happy to move away and further my education, it’s my dream come true,” said Summer, who is going to Cardiff Met to study Special Educational needs Education and Psychology. “It has been amazing at college, I had a rough time at secondary school but this was life changing. It made education so much more enjoyable.”

The glorious weather at Trowbridge and Lackham matched the sunny mood of jubilant students who arrived to see their results and catch up with friends to see how they had fared.

At Lackham, T Level Business student Oscar Bowler was overjoyed to find he’d gained a Merit. “I did better than I thought to be honest, as I did retake one of my exams because I wasn’t happy with it and I’ve ended up with a Merit, which I’m really happy with,” he said.

He had some wise words for anyone following in his footsteps. “My advice to anyone starting this T Level is, over everything else, revise. I went into these two papers thinking I didn’t have to revise and I ended up having to retake them, so definitely revise.”

Fellow Business student Joe Reynolds had already secured a place at university before he found he’d passed. “I’m still very pleased though,” he said. “Three words to describe my T Level would be stressful, exciting and hard work.”

Jo Grenfell, Deputy Principal Curriculum & Quality, said the results reflect the hard work the college has seen from students over the past two years. “These excellent results are a testament to the hard work of our students and the expertise and commitment of our teaching and support teams. Achieving a 94 per cent pass rate in T Levels and a 96 per cent pass rate in vocational and technical qualifications highlights our high-quality education and training.

“Our students leave us equipped with the knowledge, professional behaviours and technical expertise that employers and universities are looking for. We are delighted to see so many learners progressing to ambitious destinations and contributing to the future workforce of Wiltshire and beyond.”