Rochdale Observer

‘Exceptiona­l year’ at Hopwood Hall

- Jon.macpherson@men-news.co.uk @JonMacMEN

HOPWOOD Hall College students are celebratin­g an ‘exceptiona­l year’.

Bosses say the cohort have achieved ‘excellent results’ with university now beckoning for many Level 3 BTEC pupils.

All 300-plus students passed their course with 69pc achieving the highest grades of Distinctio­n+.

Applied science and former Oasis Academy pupil, Dione Whalley, is one of the students now

progressin­g onto university.

She will study medical science at the University of Chester, with the aim of one day working as a doctor in A&E.

Dione said: “Most people who want to be a Doctor choose to study A-Levels as it’s typically the done thing, but I chose the vocational route because I wanted to learn more from practical and experience-led classes.

“In my studies I really enjoyed learning about diseases, the effect of chemicals on the human body, medical anatomy and more.

“I’m excited to start uni and start working towards my target of being a doctor, but I’ll miss my lecturers – the advice and support they have given me has been invaluable.”

Andrew Joyce, an IT student who joined Hopwood Hall from the Co-op Academy in Manchester, has secured a degree level software engineer apprentice­ship at arms manufactur­er MBDA, where he will eventually write code for military missiles and guidance systems.

He said: “I can’t wait to get started on my apprentice­ship, I’ll get to work for an industry leading company in MBDA whilst studying at Manchester Metropolit­an University.

“Once I complete my degree apprentice­ship, I’ll be a full time software engineer get to work in Bolton, London and abroad.

“I’d like to thank my tutors for helping me find my path to university. It’s really important that students use their support and advice, I wouldn’t have found this career path without them.”

Another student looking to work in a unique and exciting job role is Hannah Clegg, a former Royton and Crompton Academy student, who studied early years at the College’s Rochdale campus.

Hannah said: “After first going to sixth form, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hopwood Hall College once I switched.

“Whilst studying my tutors opened my eyes to so many potential careers, because of that I’m now going to study forensic psychology at Manchester Metropolit­an University.

“My aim is to work in the rehabilita­tion of offenders in the prison system once I graduate from uni, hopefully all the hard work will pay off – it feels great to have successful­ly got this far!”

 ??  ?? ●●Girlfriend and boyfriend Molly Howarth and Harry Tait outside Rochdale Sixth Form College
●●Girlfriend and boyfriend Molly Howarth and Harry Tait outside Rochdale Sixth Form College
 ??  ?? ●●Rochdale Sixth Form College students Olivia Murphy and Lucia Jones, both from Littleboro­ugh
●●Rochdale Sixth Form College students Olivia Murphy and Lucia Jones, both from Littleboro­ugh
 ??  ?? ●●Joe Robinson and Nitin Babu at Rochdale Sixth Form College
●●Joe Robinson and Nitin Babu at Rochdale Sixth Form College
 ??  ?? ●●Andrew Joyce has already snapped up a degree level apprentice­ship in software engineerin­g
●●Andrew Joyce has already snapped up a degree level apprentice­ship in software engineerin­g
 ??  ?? ●●Dione Whalley is now going to study medical science at the University of Chester
●●Dione Whalley is now going to study medical science at the University of Chester
 ??  ?? ●●Hannah Clegg wants to work in prison rehabilita­ting offenders after uni
●●Hannah Clegg wants to work in prison rehabilita­ting offenders after uni

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