Mariana Ghertan caught COVID twice and tragically lost her mother and grandfather during her Healthcare apprenticeship. Here she shares how with the support of her tutor and family she successfully completed her training is now looking to fulfil her dream of becoming a nurse.
Juggling two jobs, one as a cleaner and another as a receptionist, as well as being a mother of two boys meant that life was busy for Mariana Ghertan.
Deep down she had always loved looking after people and had a passion to build a career that involved helping others. When her husband encouraged her to follow her dreams and do a healthcare apprenticeship, she was initially sceptical.
“I’m from Romania and hadn’t completed any further education after finishing school,” said Mariana, 36, who lives with her family in Enfield.
“I moved to the UK 17 years ago, and as English isn’t my first language I was worried that would impact my ability to do a course or apprenticeship. I was scared of change but my husband pushed me to follow my dreams and encouraged me to go for it.”
Apprenticeships are paid jobs that are available to all ages and involve four days at work and one day of study towards a recognised qualification, which Mariana undertook at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).
“I started just before lockdown and so I only had a couple of days of study at CONEL before it changed to home study, and on the other days I was working in the hospital caring for people, which I loved,” she said.
However, Mariana faced significant setbacks during her apprenticeship including contracting COVID twice and losing her grandfather who had brought her up with her mother in Romania.
“The first time I had COVID was over the Christmas period before the vaccinations. My grandad also died of old age while I was recovering and my husband lost a cousin due to COVID, and we were unable to attend their funerals because of lockdown,” she said.
“My breathing was very bad and my family were all very worried. I shut myself away in the bedroom in order to protect my husband and sons. It was an extremely difficult time, which resulted in me taking four weeks off my studies.”
Mariana caught COVID again nearly a year later, which resulted in her missing another three weeks. And on top of that her mother was tragically killed in a car crash aged just 59.
‘I received the phone call to tell me about my mum just before my exams. I was completely broken and told my tutor that I was going to quit the course and leave work,” said Mariana.
“However, my tutor was the most incredible support. She encouraged me not to give up and offered me more time. I spoke to my husband and sons who had seen how much hard work I had put in. They said that my mum was proud of me and would have wanted me to finish, so I did.
“Working in a hospital would not have been possible for me without an apprenticeship. If it wasn’t for the amazing support of my tutor, my husband and my sons, I would never have stuck at it.”
Mariana took some time off after completing her apprenticeship to help with family arrangements back in Romania and now hopes to train to become a nurse.
‘My Level 3 qualification has provided me with enough UCAS points to do nursing,” she said.
“I feel very fortunate to have been given the support to follow my dreams.”
According to the Health Foundation, 314,000 more full-time equivalent NHS staff will be needed over and above existing vacancies in England by 2030/31.
Find out more about our Healthcare and Social Care apprenticeships here.
Capital City College Group (CCCG) has launched a new range of free short courses in logistics across its colleges to fill a massive skills gap in the logistics industry.
According to Logistics UK, around 2.6 million people are employed at more than 200,000 businesses across the sector, which contributes £127 billion to the economy each year.
However, more than 1.2 million workers are needed over the next decade, in roles from transportation and warehousing to higher level positions in strategic planning and supply chain management.
CCCG has teamed up with training consultancy Skills for Logistics to become one of the first education providers in England to offer courses specifically for careers in logistics.
Places can be booked online under Free Short Courses on the City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London websites.
Logistics is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK but has been hampered by Brexit, COVID-19, existing skills shortages and limited training opportunities.
Demand has grown for jobs including HGV drivers, delivery managers, transport planners, project managers, client relationship managers, data analysts and business support roles in finance and procurement.
In a six-month period from October 2021 to March 2022 more than 30,000 logistics job vacancies were advertised in London with an average salary of £37,800 a year. These included opportunities with large employers such as NHS, Amazon and First Choice, along with positions advertised by employment agencies like Reed, Hays and Michael Page.
The following courses are available right now in class or online.
An Introduction to Logistics
An Introduction to Modes of Transportation for Logistics
An Introduction to Supply Chain Logistics
An Introduction to Freight Forwarding
An Introduction to Importing and Exporting Goods Legislation
The Highway Code for HGV drivers
HGV Theory Test Preparation
An Introduction to Business Improvement Techniques
Level 3 Award in International Supply Chain Logistics.
The courses were devised with Skills for Logistics, which works with employers to support their training needs and create a pipeline of skilled workers for the logistics industry.
Carl Boyd, Head of School for Logistics at CCCG, said: “Logistics is one the largest industries in the UK and it needs more skilled and qualified staff. At CCCG, we already have an excellent track record in running warehousing and forklift truck driving programmes that lead to employment.
“With the support of Skills for Logistics we’ve recognised the wider need of the logistics industry, particularly in outer north London, where there are many haulage companies and warehousing facilities serving the capital, offering fantastic opportunities for training and employment.”
David Coombes, CEO of Skills for Logistics, said: “We’re delighted to be working closely with CCCG to develop its logistics curriculum, which will see its colleges become among the first in Further Education o specialise in delivering future skills to support the rapidly growing UK logistics sector that underpins the UK economy.
“There has not been a better time to develop future talent for a sector that requires a wide variety of skills such as digital, technical, engineering, problem solving, AI and automation, while creating long-term job security in well-paid jobs with excellent career progression.”
Logistics firms are invited to have their say recruitment, training and development in the sector at the launch of CCCG and Skills for Logistics’ Employer Advisory Board at Westminster Kingsway College’s Victoria Centre on Wednesday 19 October at 1pm. For more information contact Carl Boyd, Head of School for Logistics at CCCG, at carl.boyd@conel.ac.uk
Find out more about our logistics courses and book a place here.
You did an apprenticeship. Can you tell us about your first day at college?
I remember when I started at college and my very first day, getting dressed up and making sure I was presentable but feeling really nervous, but those lovely nerves of excitement. It was such an exciting time going to college at what was the beginning of a wonderful journey.
What advice would you give to aspiring chefs?
I have always advised them to go to college. I think it is so, so important to have a proper qualification in our industry, in fact in any industry. College might seem unnecessary at times because you are learning so much in your workplace [on an apprenticeship] but it is 100 per cent necessary to do your qualification work.
What do you remember about your apprenticeship?
I absolutely loved my apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is amazing. It’s not just learning for skills, but it’s also life skills. That’s why I will always recommend an apprenticeship with a college. I remember my final exam, and what I had to cook. I don’t think I will ever forget that, but I passed with flying colours.
How do you cope with the pressure of running a busy kitchen?
There’s always pressure. If you don’t enjoy pressure, then maybe you’re not cut out to work in this industry. I enjoy sport and I find that is a great release and a way to work with pressure, even if it’s only 15-20 minutes of physical exercise it’s great for your mental health.
Pictures credited to Jodi Hinds.
What do you look for when recruiting a new chef?
It’s difficult to put it in a nutshell, but above all it’s a passion and desire to learn. You never stop learning. I’m still learning at my age and that’s important. This industry is continuously changing and evolving and that’s what makes it so enjoyable.
What do you think of the chef training at WestKing?
This is one of the best colleges in London. The Roux family have been sending its apprentices here for 40 years. The people who train here achieve greatness. There are lots of opportunities in our industry. Whatever you choose to do always remember to keep smiling and enjoy it, and maybe one day some of you will be working alongside me.
Why is hospitality such a great sector to work in?
I love everything about hospitality. If you want to work in our industry, you should be proud of that because it has so much to give, and you get so much personal satisfaction. I love what I do every day. I get up, jump out of bed and really look forward to my day ahead because every day is different, and every day is a different challenge. There’s a job for everyone at every level. Whether you’re aiming to be a Michelin-star chef or front of house, a sommelier or a waiter working up to management, find a place where you are happy.
If you think you have what it takes to become a Michelin-star chef like Michel Roux, find out more about our Hospitality and Culinary courses here and apprenticeships here.
Michelin-star chef Michel Roux welcomed newly enrolled Hospitality and Culinary Arts students and apprentices as they got a flavour of life at Westminster Kingsway College.
Around 350 aspiring chefs, hoteliers and waiters attended the event at the college’s Victoria Centre on 13 September, which included cookery demonstrations, fun games and activities and trade stands from many of the hospitality industry suppliers that work with the college.
Michel, who owns La Gavroche restaurant in Mayfair, insisted there was a job for everyone in hospitality whether in the kitchen or front of house and stressed the importance of qualifications.
He said: “This is one of the best colleges in London. The Roux family have been sending its apprentices here for 40 years. The people who train here, like your good selves, achieve greatness.
“There are lots and lots of opportunities in our industry. Whatever you choose to do, always remember to keep smiling and enjoy it, and maybe one day some of you will be working alongside me.”
The new students enjoyed plenty of fun activities including trying their hand at icing and decorating cupcakes, making a crepe suzette and mixing mocktails.
WestKing works with a wide range of culinary industry partners, many of which were represented at the event.
Students learnt about the supply of fruit and vegetables with DDP Ltd and how to blend their own smoothies using various ingredients with kitchen equipment supplier Thermomix.
The event also featured stands from the Craft Guild of Chefs, The Caterer magazine, catering suppliers Flint & Flame, Koppert Cress and Mozzo Coffee, Compass Group and HRC, an annual expo for hospitality and food service professionals.
Also present was BSG, which gives hospitality and culinary students the opportunity to gain internships at prestigious private clubs, hotels and resorts in the United States.
There was also a free to enter raffle to win prizes including two tickets to see the musical Wicked at The Apollo, a basket of fruit, a chopping board from Rough Stuff Oak, a kitchen knife from Flint & Flame, a £50 Amazon voucher and copies of In a Class of Their Own, a book on the WestKing’s hospitality and culinary school’s history.
Sam Neil, 16, who has just started a Professional Chef Level 1 Diploma, said: “I’ve been interested in cooking for a few years. One of my grandad’s friends runs a catering company and suggested I look at working in hospitality. She said if you want to be a chef you should go to WestKing. My careers adviser at school told me it’s the best college they know for hospitality.
“Being a chef involves long hours, tough work but it’s a rewarding career. You get to show what you’re about through the food, rather than sitting in an office doing work you’re not interested in.
“I’ve really enjoyed today. It’s been good to meet some chefs and get a feel for what the hospitality industry is like. I’m only in the first few weeks of training and getting the basics done, but I’m properly excited to start cooking, get to know people and about the whole college experience.”
Ellie Paphitis, also 16 and studying the same course, said: “I’ve been enjoying cooking since I was young, especially baking and making pastries. I was going to go to sixth form and do A Levels, but I changed my mind because I wanted to do something I was really passionate about. I’ve tried a lot of things, but cooking is the one thing I’ve stuck with in my life. I also have a lot of influences in my family because they like to cook as well.
“A lot of us are aspiring to be like Michel Roux and it was very motivational and inspiring to hear from him. It made me feel like I’m not so far away, and if I really try my best and work towards what I want to be, then I can do it.
“There has been lots going on today. I’ve tried some fruits, vegetables and some garnishes. I’ve not heard of any other college doing anything like this. I’ve been able to speak to other students and teachers. It’s really brought everyone together.”
The Burnt Chef Project, which provides mental health support for the UK hospitality industry, also attended the event along with other support organisations including SASH London, Mind, Insight and WestKing’s own Student Services team.
Miranda Quantrill, Curriculum Manager for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, said: “We were delighted to officially welcome our new students and apprentices starting this year, as well giving our second and third years an opportunity to network and have fun, and what could be more exciting than to have Michel Roux inspire them as they start their hospitality journey!
“The day was a hive of activity and gave students the chance to settle into life at college – which can be quite daunting if you have just left school – and to find out more about the incredible industry they will be gaining the skills and knowledge to work in over the next few years.”
Figures show that one in six new jobs created in the UK over the past year was in the hospitality sector, the equivalent of 133,000 new roles.
Find out more about out Hospitality and Culinary courses here and apprenticeship here. Enrol now.
Like a great many people here and around the world, we are saddened over the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
During her long reign – the second longest reign of any monarch of a sovereign state – we were honoured to welcome Her Majesty to one of our colleges. And over the years, our colleges have been awarded Queen’s Anniversary Prizes, and colleagues and students were recognised in various Birthday and New Year honours lists.
Roy O’Shaughnessy, CEO of Capital City College Group said:
“It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen and our deepest condolences go to the Royal Family.
“The Queen was a constant part of our lives for 70 years and her passing will affect our staff and students in different ways. We are offering support to those who may need it, for whatever reason, at this sad time.”
Visit to CANDI’s Centre for Applied Sciences
In 2011 The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited City and Islington College’s Centre for Applied Sciences. During the visit the Queen unveiled two plaques marking the official opening of the college’s Animal Care Centre and an accreditation by the National Skills Academy Process Industries which recognised the college as a Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology.
Her Majesty saw some of the animals at the centre and was given a tour of the college’s forensics, optics and sports science provision, which included a mock crime scene being investigated by students.
Queen’s Anniversary Prizes
Two of our colleges have been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. These awards are presented every two years to universities and colleges that have shown excellence in quality and innovation, in providing real benefits to the world through education and training.
In 2007, CANDI received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for creating Pathways to Employment and Higher Education in the Sciences. At the time, City and Islington was the only college to have received this accolade twice, having previously received the award in 1994, for widening access and progression to higher education.
Westminster Kingsway College has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education – in 2015, for collaboration and innovation in the culinary arts. At the time, then Principal Andy Wilson said: “The award of the prize to Westminster Kingsway College is one of the greatest moments in the college’s long history. It is recognition of many staff, students and employers who have been involved with the college over the years.” In 2016 a plaque commemorating the award was unveiled at the college’s Victoria Centre.
Queen’s New Year and Birthday Honours
Here are some of our staff and alumni who have been honoured by The Queen over the years:
Garth Crooks – The former Tottenham Hotspur striker and BBC football pundit studied at CONEL and was awarded an OBE in 1999.
Timothy Spall – The Bafta-nominated actor, known for his many screen roles including five Harry Potter films, attended WestKing and received an OBE in 2000.
Audley Harrison – The British former super-heavyweight boxer and Olympic gold medallist attended CONEL and was awarded an MBE in 2001.
Trevor Nelson – The DJ and radio presenter on BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio 2 who attended WestKing, was awarded an MBE in 2002.
Jamie Oliver – The celebrity chef and restauranteur trained at WestKing and was made an MBE in 2003 for services to the hospitality industry.
Pablo Lloyd – The CEO of Visionnaires, a programme started within CCCG to help aspiring entrepreneurs start new businesses, was made an OBE in 2019.
Our deepest condolences to the Royal Family. HM Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022.
Announcements so far this year indicated that Boris Johnson’s administration understood the need to boost skills and technical education following Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a further education college group, this is very welcome, as we know how vital colleges are to the Government’s skills agenda.
But will this continue under Liz Truss’s leadership?
We’ve taken a dive into her views and actions on further education, skills and apprenticeships, during her parliamentary career.
Liz Truss is, we believe, the first Prime Minister to have attended a comprehensive school – Roundhay School in Leeds. During the leadership race she said that the quality of education she received there “let down” students, with its “low expectations, poor educational standards and lack of opportunity” – assertions which have been disputed by someone who was at the school with her. And, however poor it may have been, her schooling did help her get into Oxford University, where she read the same subject (Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)) as her leadership rival Rishi Sunak.
In 2011, she expressed her opinions on technical education. She wrote in Conservative Home that England was behind other developed countries on the amount of academic training required for technical jobs. Where English and maths are only a requirement to take until 16 years old in the UK, pupils in similar countries must take them until they are 18. At the time, she said she supported an English Baccalaureate and believed this should be an option for all students.
Liz Truss has some education Ministerial experience. She was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare from September 2012 to July 2014, when her responsibilities included qualifications, assessments and curriculum reform, behaviour and attendance. During her tenure, in 2013, she announced proposals to reform A Levels by scrapping AS levels and having the examinations at the end of the two-year course. She also fought to improve British standards in maths.
“my mission in politics is to give every child, every person, the best opportunity to succeed, and for their success in life to depend solely on their hard work and talents, not their background or where they are from” – such opportunity she ‘alleges’ were not initially available to her.
Recent proposals on education
It has been reported that Truss told the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs that if she became Prime Minister, she would end the ban on grammar schools. This proposal is welcomed by many – especially in the Conservative party – but there is evidence to suggest that while grammar schools may stretch brighter pupils, they increase inequality overall as the attainment of other pupils in other schools suffers.
On universities, she has proposed that all students who receive 3 A*s at A-Level to automatically be offered an interview at Oxford or Cambridge University, to make Oxbridge more accessible. This idea has already faced criticism, as those who attend private schools and the best state schools are more likely to achieve such grades – inevitably still excluding less-privileged students.
She has also stated that she would reform the university admissions system to a post-qualification admission system – meaning that students apply to university after they receive their A-Level results, rather than getting offers based off predicted grades. A post-qualification admission system has already failed to gain support in Parliament due to the additional bureaucracy and pressure on institutions and the academic calendar.
Looking forward
Mrs Truss and her new Ministerial team have a large in-tray. With the cost of living crisis raging, the NHS in trouble and the prospect of a multi-year, multi-billion pound bill to stave-off the worst effects of the energy crisis, it is perhaps not surprising that the government do not yet have a solid plan to support further education and enable it to deliver the skills that UK plc needs.
And her proposed tax cuts might make matters worse. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the proposed tax cuts and corporate tax incentives, will initially lead to a loss of at least £30billion per year in tax receipts – losses which will probably not be offset by the rise in investment that she anticipates would result.
At CCCG we will be sure to engage with the new Prime Minister, as well as her new Secretary of State for Education Kit Malthouse (welcome to the best job in Government!) and his education Ministerial team – to do all we can to share with them the importance of further education to the future skills of our population and our nation’s success.
Three asks that we think should be on the new PM’s desk, addressing further education and skills are:
Free courses for adults up to Level 4
Allowing for greater operational freedom for further education colleges to help them to be more financially sustainable organisations
A real focus on apprenticeships and reforming the apprenticeship levy, to make apprenticeships more accessible to Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) and students.
We are hosting a breakfast event at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday 3rd October in partnership with BusinessLDN (formally London First). We have invited key Conservative stakeholders, education providers and businesses to discuss levelling up and the skills agenda, so we look forward to these conversations and where the attendees see the education and skills sector going forward.
The rising cost of living is having a huge impact on us all.
With energy bills and prices soaring, education is the last thing that you may be thinking of investing in. But with FREE courses on offer at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL), now could be the right time to boost your future career prospects.
We know that that cost is one of the main barriers for adults wanting to learn new skills, which is why took the decision to offer FREE courses regardless of age or income.
Our courses are FREE up to Level 2, equivalent to GCSE, and some at Level 3, equating to A Level study. We also offer a fantastic range of FREE short courses throughout the year.
We run courses at our Tottenham and Enfield Centres in Accounting, Business, Childcare, Construction, Creative Media, Engineering, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Health and Social Care, IT, Music, Public Services, Science, Teacher Education, and Travel and Tourism.
If you don’t have GCSEs in English or maths you can study them too alongside your course.
It may surprise you to learn that most of our students are not school leavers, but adults aged 19 or over, many of whom have gone on to university and great careers.
Where there is a cost attached to your course, we offer flexible payment options, bursaries, support with applying for student loans and advice on funding to help with childcare.
Tim Mansfield, 41, from Woodford, who studied a Plumbing diploma, said: “I’ve made some great friends at CONEL and learnt some great skills that I fully intend build upon in my future career.”
Lwin McLay, 45, from Enfield, who completed an Accounting diploma and achieved a grade 8 in GCSE maths, said: “My tutor was excellent and helped us prepare well for the exam. He knew his subject and all the topics that were going to be covered this year.”
Our courses include Access to Higher Education Diplomas, which are one-year courses for adults looking to go to university who do not have usual entry qualifications.
A football coach for the Turkey national team has told how studying at City and Islington College (CANDI) helped kick off his career.
Emre Aydemir, 36, joined the Turkish Football Federation in 2020 as an assistant coach and educator where he has worked under head coach Stefan Kuntz and his predecessor Şenol Güneş.
He previously worked as an assistant coach and educator for Arsenal in the Community, the club’s community programme for young people, after completing an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Sports Science at CANDI in 2013.
Emre developed his coaching skills at the Gunners, studying for a Foundation Degree in Football Coaching while at the club and gaining his UEFA B licence with the English FA.
He later progressed to BSc (Hons) in Sport Psychology and Coaching and graduated in 2016, and more recently he attained his UEFA A licence with the Scottish FA.
Emre, who grew up in Istanbul, played professional football for Küçükçekmece before coming to England in 2010 where he played and coached at non-league White Hart Rapids in Haringey.
“I could not continue with my playing career as a professional footballer due to a foot injury,” said Emre, who has since moved back to Turkey.
“I ended my football career as top scorer in a league in north London I played in and decided to focus on my education. I’d always had passion for football, and as I had played football I thought I could continue as a coach.”
Emre is a fan of Turkish side Fenerbahçe but adopted Arsenal as his favourite team in England while he was living in London and attending CANDI.
He names José Mourinho, who has managed two of the Gunners’ biggest rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea and is now at Roma, among the coaches he admires.
“I like Mourinho because he has been successful with teams at different levels. He is also a very disciplined coach with very good communication skills with the players,” said Emre.
“He is someone who constantly applies new strategies and different models and does not give up on himself.”
When asked what skills and attributes are needed to be a good football coach, Emre listed leadership, management, communication, observation, passion, positiviity, patience, imagination, self-motivation and a desire to do better to reach your potential.
“Coaching keeps me focused all the time. It’s important to me to establish good relations with the players and understand them and have good organisation skills and pay attention to detail,” he said.
Emre recalled how he was able to implement what he had learnt at CANDI into his university studies and this, along with his training at Arsenal and the FA, gave him the skills he needed for his coaching career.
He has particularly fond memories of CANDI where he started his journey and often mentions the college when asked about his career or when speaking at conferences worldwide.
“When I first started CANDI, I had a lack of self-confidence and thought I wouldn’t be successful,” said Emre.
“My teachers supported and pushed me to do my best. They were so helpful and believed in me. The course gave me better insight into sports science, theoretically and scientifically, which I was able to implement into my university studies.
“CANDI taught me to dream, gave me direction and encouraged me to set achievable goals. It is still a very special place for me.”
CANDI offers Sports Science courses from Level 2-3, which cover anatomy, health and safety, sports psychology, nutrition, fitness and practical sport.
Adult students excelled in this year’s GCSE results at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) with more than half achieving high grades in maths.
The college saw 56.8 per cent of students aged 19 or over pass their maths exam with high 9 to 4 grades while 46.1 per cent of adults were awarded top grades in English.
Students taking their GCSEs were sitting exams for the first time since the COVID pandemic with many studying them alongside full-time courses and some without English as a first language.
Overall CONEL saw 30.9 per cent of students achieve high grades of 9 to 4 in English and 30.5 per cent attain 9 to 4 grades in maths with many going on to further study or employment.
Hanieh Damer Cheli, 33, achieved a grade 9 in maths and a 5 in English along with a 9 in GCSE Combined Science. She now hopes to study A Levels or an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
She said: “I couldn’t sleep and woke up at 4am! I was so nervous that I asked my friend to check my results. I was predicted 8 or 9 in maths. I was expecting a bit higher in English, but I’ve still got good grades.
“My English teacher was fantastic. She was so caring and kind and really paid attention to her students. I felt confident about my knowledge going into the exam. I’m so happy, and I can now plan for my future. This is the first step to university, but I know I can do it.”
Lwin McLay, Kamile Dilberoglu, Mahsa Moradaghay, Besjana Begaj and Habibeh Esmaeil Zadeh all attained a grade 8 in maths.
Lwin, 45, who also completed an AAT Accounting Level 3 Diploma and is now progressing to Level 4, said: “I was very excited when I got my result. My tutor was excellent and helped us prepare well for the exam. He knew his subject and all the topics that were going to be covered this year.
“He gave us all the information and laid out all the resources we needed, and we also did a lot of past exam papers in class. As long as you put in the work and study, you can achieve anything.”
Mahsa Moradaghay and Lwin McLay who both achieved a grade 8 in maths and Andy Brenya who attained a 6 in English and a 7 in maths.
Andy Brenya, 19, gained a 6 in English and a 7 in maths while also studying for the first year of an Applied Science Level 3 Diploma, which he is expected to complete next summer.
He said: “The teaching at CONEL was very good. In English my teacher broke everything down, which made it very easy. In maths they did everything to help me understand and we would have tests every week. It gave me the confidence I needed going into the exam.”
CONEL offers A Levels at its Enfield Centre through its City and Islington College (CANDI) Sixth Form Hub. It also offers vocational courses at its Tottenham and Enfield Centres in Accounting, Business, Construction, Engineering, Creative Media, Health and Social Care, Childcare, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Computing, Music, Public Services, Science, Sport, Teacher Education and Travel and Tourism.
The college also offers a wide range of apprenticeships with top employers across London through Capital City College Training enabling you to earn while you learn.
Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal of Capital City College Group, which includes CONEL, said: “I would like to congratulate all our GCSE students on an excellent set of results this year.
“It is a tribute to their hard work and resilience and the dedication and support of our teachers and staff that they have achieved the grades they deserve. I wish them all the very best for the future.”
Places are still available at CONEL this September. Find out more about our courses and apprenticeships here and enrol today.
Students and staff at Westminster Kingsway College have been celebrating success today, as students received their A Level and BTEC results.
Today’s results follow two years of disrupted teaching, online lessons and uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic. And, because the pandemic meant their GCSEs had been cancelled in 2020, these A Levels were the first formal exams that this group of students had ever sat – making their achievements all the more impressive.
In all, 267 WestKing students received A Level results – in a wide range of subjects from Biology to Business and from Physics to Philosophy. 86% of students’ grades were passes, which is an improvement on 2019, the last time any students sat summer exams. In addition, 100% of the college’s students passed their exams in English Literature, Further Mathematics, Media Studies, and Spanish, and Intensive A Levels in English Literature, History and Politics.
One of the students who passed English Literature is 19 year old Vevina Weldu, who was delighted with her A in English literature and B grades in Psychology and Philosophy. She is off to the University of Southampton in September to study Marketing and has had a great time at WestKing. “I loved it. The teachers really help you to move forward and it’s been enjoyable here.”
Millie Croos from Edgware in north London was thrilled with her grades, getting A* in Psychology and Biology and an A in Chemistry. She said: “I want to work in neuroscience, so I am going to Manchester to do an integrated master’s degree in Neuroscience – it’s a four-year course. Neuroscience is all related to the brain and I will have different career options including in artificial intelligence or working with neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s.
“My teachers have been brilliant. Angela Stewart was my tutor and my Chemistry teacher and was the best teacher ever. Natalie Sanderson taught Psychology and I really feel that I owe her my grade!”
Another very happy student is Ossie Crick, who couldn’t have done any better than the three A* grades that he achieved in English Literature, History and Politics. His achievement is particularly notable because all three subjects were Intensive A Levels, meaning that Ossie studied for just one year. “It was hard work” he said. “I was too busy studying during the year to have a job, but I was still able to have a social life. But I stuck with it and am surprised with how well I did.
“I did a lot of self-learning, but my teachers – Andrew Edwards and Arifa Hafiz – were great and they really care for their students. I have a place at Manchester University to study History and Politics and my success is thanks to them.”
For many of our students, studying at WestKing is much more than learning the curriculum and preparing for exams. Many are the first member of their family to study A Levels or apply to university, so they and their families don’t always have the knowledge and understanding of how the system works, or how to navigate it.
So, the college’s form tutors and subject teachers, student support teams, careers advisors and enrichment staff guide and advise students and help them achieve their potential. This support takes many forms, and includes wellbeing, mental health advice and pastoral care, as well as study guidance, workshops, CV training, work placements with employers, talks from industry figures and employers, paid internships and – depending on the course – experiences like trips to businesses, art galleries and museums. These enrichment opportunities support students’ academic studies and really make a difference to their chances of success.
The Career Ready programme is one example of the amazing support available to students at the college. The programme helps students prepare for higher education and work, and includes a wide range of enrichment opportunities including workshops and advice, professional mentors, as well as internships and placements with blue-chip firms.
Saffron Devonish Wint passed her A Levels in Business, Politics and Psychology and took advantage of the opportunities available to her. As WestKing’s Carlo Liu explains, “Saffron worked incredibly hard. She was selected for the Career Ready Programme and did so well on it, that she was also nominated for their national Student of the Year award.
Saffron has been offered a degree apprenticeship with Unilever and told us: “I wouldn’t have got my degree apprenticeship without the support I had from the college and from my Career Ready mentor.”
Also getting their results today were the college’s BTEC students. In contrast to the mostly academic A Levels, a BTEC is a more practical qualification. It helps many young people gain vital knowledge and experience, as well as – for those who pass with a distinction – earning enough UCAS points to get into university.
18 year-old Orla McLaughlin aced her BTEC Level 3 in Music Performance & Music Production, achieving a Distinction. “The facilities are really nice”, she says. “There’s a theatre where you can do performances at the end of each term. We’ve got production rooms and studios. We also get talks and advice from people in the music industry – proper artists – who come in and give us talks.” Orla is off to study Music and Psychology with honours at Liverpool University and she is really excited for the future.
Behind these successes and many others, are often stories of triumph over adversity. Many of our students have overcome personal and emotional setbacks to keep studying for their A Levels and BTECs and – regardless of their final grades – just completing their courses and sitting their exams is a huge achievement.
As Shirley Wong, Curriculum Manager for A Levels, explained, “We have students who are living in care, or have been in care – one of whom is hoping to study Sanskrit at Oxford University. We also have young refugees and others who have caring responsibilities at home.”
“But one student in particular stands out for me. She has overcome extreme health issues over the past two years, undergoing several operations, suffering personal bereavement, moving home and working outside of college. She is hoping to get into university and is a remarkable young lady. Her positive attitude and diligence have been remarkable and it has been a pleasure to see her grow into such a capable young person.”
WestKing’s Vice Principal Jas Sondhi said: “So many of our learners have had to overcome huge challenges to get to this point and I want to congratulate all of them on their achievements in their A Levels and BTECs today.
“Our learners have been resilient and have worked very hard under extremely difficult circumstances, and I am particularly pleased with how they’ve faced the challenges of the last two years with a real sense of purpose and dignity. They have their whole lives ahead of them and I know they will go onto do great things and contribute to the common good.
“I also want to thank our students’ parents and carers, for the love and support they give to their children, as well as the wonderful group of teaching and support staff here at WestKing. They are a great team and they make this college such a fantastic and inspiring place to study.”
Westminster Kingsway College is part of Capital City College Group (CCCG), which also comprises City and Islington College, and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, as well as Capital City College Training – the Group’s specialist apprenticeships and training provider.
Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal of Capital City College Group said: “I would like to congratulate all our A Level students on an excellent set of results this year. Their studies were hugely impacted by the COVID pandemic, and it is a tribute to their hard work and resilience that they have achieved the grades they deserve and are now set to progress onto the universities, employers and apprenticeships they planned for.
“I would also like to thank our teachers and support staff for their dedication and relentless support to students in what has been the most challenging period to be a teacher in living memory.
“I wish all our students collecting their results today the very best for the future.”
It isn’t too late for you to enrol at WestKing for courses starting in September. Find out more about our courses and enrol here.
Capital City College Group
211 Gray’s Inn Road
King’s Cross
London
WC1X 8RA
United Kingdom
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