EXAMS JOY FOR STUDENTS
RESULTS BREAK RECORDS AGAIN AMID COVID DISRUPTION
COLLEGE student Ciara Bibey has landed herself a place at the University of Birmingham studying dental hygiene and therapy after receiving two A*s in biology and psychology and two Bs in chemistry and Welsh while studying at Coleg y Cymoedd.
The pupil, from Maerdy, Rhondda, worked in McDonalds throughout the pandemic training new staff and will now swap burgers for flossing.
Ciara, from Maerdy, switched from studying at a traditional sixth form to taking qualifications at Coleg y Cymoedd after deciding she would benefit from a different environment to school and believing college would better prepare her for university.
The talented learner was surprised to do as well as she did in her results following the year of interruptions and uncertainty resulting from the pandemic, as well as the difficulty of balancing her part-time job training people to help keep the community fed at a time when McDonalds was one of the few restaurants open.
She said: “During my studies I was working full-time in McDonalds as I was trying to save up for university.
“I was responsible for training people as part of my role and as McDonalds was one of the few restaurants open at one point during the pandemic, everyone was coming to us so we had to get loads of new staff in and trained.
“I was trying to juggle my shifts there with college work which was quite hard and stressful, but it was worth it. The college was really supportive.
“When we were in lockdown we would have two-hour lessons online instead of just being sent a worksheet or something, and tutors actually spoke to us regularly instead of emailing over work. It helped massively.”
On her desire to work in the dental industry, Ciara said: “I always wanted to do something with dentistry, but I didn’t want to be an actual dentist because of the five years it takes at university.
“I was speaking to my orthodontist who said his wife was a dental hygienist and therapist and loved her job. I researched it and thought ‘I want to do that’.”
A teenager is hoping his interest in the science behind brain injuries will act as a launchpad to a career in medicine after his strong A-level showing.
Zak Hooper-Harris, 18, will study Biomedical Science at Bristol University after developing an interest in neurology and how changes to the brain can affect behaviour.
He achieved A*, A, B in Law, Biology, and Chemistry following two years at Coleg y Cymoedd, where he said tutors “went out of their way” to help him and others on his course during coronavirus lockdowns.
Zak, from Tylorstown, said he is yet to consider what career path to aim for in future, but hoped that his natural interest in the workings of the brain combined with the quality of learning opportunities at Bristol would lead to a place working in medicine.
He said: “What interests me is understanding behaviour and how certain things like injuries to the brain can lead to behaviours changing.
“I’d read an example of a man who was involved in an explosion and suffered injuries to his head, which led to him becoming more violent and aggressive later on. That sort of stuff is fascinating.
“I’m looking forward to the course, which can lead to going into medicine. We’ll see where I end up.”
Coleg y Cymoedd, which serves learners across Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly, has reported high grades across both its academic and vocational courses, with its Nantgarw-based A-level Centre achieving
a 100 per cent overall pass rate for 2021 across all 21 of the college’s subject areas including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Welsh and French.
Emily Strudwick, from Merthyr Tydfil, is 16 and just completed her ASs. She received an A in Welsh AS, and A in law AS and a A* in Maths at A-level.
She said: “I felt ecstatic when I got the results this morning as getting it done this year was very stressful.
“I’m just so glad to get the first part of my A-levels done now so I can move on to the next stage.
“I hope everyone else got what they wanted as well so they can do what they want next year, whether that’s jobs or university.”
Private school Cardiff Academy has reported a 98.78% A-level pass rate at the top A* to A grades.
Students Naz Ismail, Faith Edwards, Amy Lloyds Evans, Callum Reid and Patrick Topham all got four A* grades each. Zohaib Tahir achieved one A* and two A grades.
The college said: “It should also be noted that the above students achieved the highest GCSE grades when they took these in 2019 which was the last time students sat external exams.
“This information is provided as evidence to the fact that these A-level students would achieve straight A*s even if external exams were to take place.”
Kelsey Chard, 18, from Treharris also got good news as she received the grades she needed to get in to her university course next year – studying psychology with criminology at the Royal Holloway university.
Friend Bethany Blackmore, 18, from Ebbw Vale, was also pleased with her results, receiving all A and A* grades.
She said: “I was just over the moon this morning to pass and I’m so happy that my friends have done brilliant as well. Studying has obviously been quite difficult during the pandemic so it’s great to have this part behind us now.
“I’m going to St Andrew’s University next year to study Chemistry and I honestly I can’t wait.”
Nadia Marshall, 18, from Nelson was over the moon with her results, receiving 4 A*s in Biology, Chemistry, maths, and physics.
She will be taking a gap year to get some work experience and have a break from studying before she goes on to do medicine in the future.