GCSE results day is fast approaching and we hope you’re looking forward to the next steps in your education journey. 

We understand that waiting for your GCSE results can also be a little daunting. The most important thing to remember is you made it to the end and you should feel proud of the work you put in. And, whatever your situation, there is always a solution.

We’ve pulled together a quick guide on what to expect on the day and what to do if you don’t get the results you hoped for.

How to prepare for GCSE results day

Hopefully you are feeling eager and excited to receive your results, but it can also be natural to feel anxious ahead of the day.Speaking to your parents, carers or friends about any worries  can help. Remember, you are not alone.

If you are unsure about when you can pick up your results, or have not received an update, you should get in touch to tell us when you would like to come in.

You may want to think about whether you’d prefer to collect and open your results with your parent(s), with a group of friends for moral support, or on your own if that would make you feel more comfortable.

What will happen on results day 

Your results will be emailed to you. However, campus will be open from 9am for anyone wanting to pick up their results in person or talk about next steps.There will be staff on campus so head to reception and they will direct you to where you need to go.

If you do not receive your results via email, contact your teacher. 

What happens after GCSE results day/what are the next steps?

Appealing a GCSE grade

If you want to query your grade(s) – speak to your teacher in the subject or the head of department. They can request that the exam board reviews the marking of your exam entry.

If you need certain grades to get into a college or sixth form and you missed these, speak to your tutor as soon as possible to find out about what options are available to you.

There are many post-16 options available. These can include:

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are an opportunity to earn while you learn. You will also get a nationally recognised qualification at the end of it. Apprentices are employed from the word go and you will get support from a company that is committed to your development.

BTECs

BTEC qualifications are a great alternative route to university and focus on practical courses. They are an opportunity to gain a qualification in an area you might be interested in pursuing a career in.

These courses are assessed on an ongoing basis through a mixture of coursework and exams.

A levels

A levels are the traditional route to higher education, allowing learners to specialise in a range of subjects. They aren’t just for university – they’re also respected qualifications to have for on-the-job training, a higher apprenticeship and for work.

T Levels

T Levels are  new, two-year qualifications focused on developing the practical skills employers look for.

T Levels will help you learn industry skills, prepare you for work, further training or further study. You will also have the opportunity to do a work placement.

Work Experience

The college Careers Service is here to help you make those important decisions and to help you plan the next steps towards your future. From applying to work, a college course, an apprenticeship or working out your interests, skills and aspirations, our careers advisers can provide you with the information, advice and guidance you need.

Can you retake GCSEs?

Yes you can. If you didn’t get the grades you wanted, you can always look at retaking them alongside a college course. Have a discussion with your teacher, who will be able to advise you.

What if you’ve done better than expected?

If you’ve done better than expected, congratulations! This is  an opportunity to look at all your options and what you might want to do next.  

If you have any questions about your results, speak to your teacher.

Don’t forget, you can also make the most of our Student Information Hub, where you’ll find information on work experience, careers and industry placements.

‘A huge achievement!’.

That is how one of our apprentice welders, Harry Pullan, has described reaching the finals of a national skills competition.

The 23 year old is one of just ten welding apprentices from across the country who will battle it out in the ultimate stage of WorldSkills UK this winter.

Harry, who is working for Keighley firm Byworth Boilers, earned his place after impressing the judges in the regional heats in July.

A morale-boosting confirmation

He said: “It feels unreal to have reached the final, but I am glad to see my efforts pay off! I love my job and to be part of the final ten in this competition just lets me know I’m in the right place.

“The qualifiers were a good experience because I met some lads from another company and was able to find out a bit about their work, and learn about a few different machines.

“Working as an apprentice has provided me with the best of both worlds because I get all the practical, on-the-job learning and then at college I learn all the technical knowledge and get my qualifications.”

Harry’s welding journey began when he was 19. He started his apprenticeship working for a firm that makes scaffolding towers and stillages, before moving to Byworth Boilers last summer.

Outstanding support

He said: “My knowledge and skills have increased so much since joining Byworth, and Keighley College is the reason I ended up there – and in the WorldSkills competition. I can’t say enough good things about the college; I owe a huge thanks to my tutor, Adam Sutcliffe, and my assessor, Ash Fieldsend, for their support.”

Tutor Adam encouraged Harry to push on in the competition when he had doubts. He said: “Harry is a top student, and has been since he started as a level 2 apprentice.

“He’s keen in the classroom and wants to learn and, practically speaking, he just loves to weld – and he’s very good at it.

“He is a cracking lad and is a pleasure to have in the group. We are all chuffed for him, and I think he will do well come finals day.”

Looking ahead to a bright future

Harry will be one of more than 400 students and apprentices – competing in 51 skills ranging from digital construction to health and social care – taking part in the WorldSkills UK finals in November.

He added: “All I can do in the final is focus, work and get my tasks done. If I get a podium finish then I’ll be over the moon, but even if I place last I’ll be happy because to be in the top ten is already a huge achievement for me.

“As for the future, I’ll have to wait and see because I am very happy at Byworth but, at the same time, I would love to weld all over the world.”

The WorldSkills UK finals will be held at colleges, independent training providers and universities across Greater Manchester from November 14 – 17.

We are offering adults a wide range of free courses that will help learners upskill or retrain in growing sectors in the region, such as  health, digital, and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

According to a report by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, around two-thirds (65%) of employers have upskilling needs in the region, driven by new working practices, new technology / equipment and regulatory requirements. 

It has also been reported that 32% of people have no qualifications in Keighley compared with 26% across West Yorkshire. The college will be using its free course provision to address the skills shortages and boost opportunities in the district.

With new technologies, accompanied by demographic and environmental change, the demand for people to retrain or upskill has heightened. As such, skills that include critical thinking and problem solving – which complement the new technologies – will become increasingly important in the future.

Kevin O’Hare, Principal at Keighley College, said: “We are witnessing a transformation in technological advancements. While the growth of technology offers the possibility of developing new skills, it will also come with the displacement of different types of jobs.

“As educators, we play a key role in adapting to the changing landscape and help learners develop in-demand skills. Gaining a Level 3 qualification can boost income, help people stand out and gain skills that employers value.”

“At the heart of the college’s skills agenda is ensuring that young people and adults are getting the very best education. Through these free courses, we are giving adults, particularly those with no qualifications, the opportunity to gain  one in an area they are interested in or for them to retrain for another career.

For more information on the free courses available, visit Keighley College.

Keighley College will be hosting a ‘peace meal’ on Thursday 22 June, where staff and students can share their stories over a delicious meal provided by Bab Tooma, an authentic Syrian restaurant.

There will also be a performance of multilingual poetry by poet and writer, Nabeela Ahmed and students will have the opportunity to take part in their workshop. 

Visitors will also be able to hear about Keighley College’s work as a designated College of Sanctuary as well as view a video and quilt created by its ESOL students.

There will be an opportunity to make donations on the day to the Keighley Good Food Project; or you can donate here. 

Keighley College is proud to have been crowned the overall winner of this year’s Planet Earth Games Competition. The nationwide event showcased students’ incredible creativity and innovation and tasked them with coming up with environmental activities that truly make a difference.

As part of the challenge, colleges in Yorkshire organised activities based around vital sustainable themes – carbon reduction, connecting to nature, food, waste reduction, conservation, energy and travel, to name a few.

Our students’ amazing creations range from constructing an indoor greenhouse using recycled bottles and timber offcuts to crafting a suit of armour from waste metal.

Cristopher Nichols, Student Engagement Officer, said: ‘’I am so proud of our students, who did a brilliant job of fulfilling the competition’s brief. Their fantastic efforts made them worthy overall winners of this important national award.”

Fostering engagement within the wider community

The hard work displayed in organising these activities also fostered inclusivity and engagement within the community.

Students engaged in activities such as running a sustainable ”pay what you can” shop, stocked with donated clothes to help students during the cost of living crisis.

One of the students, Dylan Worsnop, helped by tutor Simon Davison, used leftover metal from his fabrication and welding course to produce a Spartan-style body armour and shield.

What began as a headpiece eventually evolved into a complete outfit.

Indoor greenhouse and armour created by students

A testament to our commitment to immediate environmental action

Principal Kevin O’Hare was delighted with the competition’s success.

He said: “Our students’ impressive efforts have shone a light on our college and our commitment to sustainable action, which includes becoming net zero by 2035. We’re looking forward to being presented with the Bamboo Trophy for this victory, and will be displaying it proudly on campus.”

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve secured funding through the Department for Education-led Multiply programme to enhance adult numeracy skills in our district.

With this financial support, we’ll be able to assist adults in our area who don’t have a Level 2 qualification – roughly equivalent to a GCSE grade 4, or the old C grade – in maths. The aim will be to help them overcome their fear of the subject so they can thrive, personally and professionally.

The work will involve supporting learners through putting on new, flexible courses designed to fit around their lives, and training more staff to teach numeracy.

The focus will be on functional, rather than theoretical, maths to show how useful it can be in real-life situations ranging from budgeting for shopping to understanding borrowing, credit and interest.

A 2022 report found that more than half – 52% – of adults in West Yorkshire were at ‘entry level and below’ in terms of numeracy.

Keighley College’s Principal, Kevin O’Hare, said: “Numeracy is so important for all of us as we try to negotiate the daily challenges of education, life and work.

“Skills like budgeting are essential, especially now while we are facing a cost of living crisis, but many people find it  difficult.

“We are therefore delighted, as a college dedicated to supporting the community, to have secured funding to help local adults, in all walks of life, feel more confident in such areas.“

The programme will also open up new work and educational possibilities for participants, and take them a step closer to being able to benefit from further support such as the Lifelong Loan Entitlement.

Keighley College is already piloting a project that asks English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students to take on tasks like banking or supermarket shopping.

Principal of Keighley College, Kevin O’Hare, was among leaders from Leeds City College, Leeds College of Building, Bradford, Kirklees, Shipley and Calderdale colleges, to join hundreds of others from across the country in calling for fairer funding, a right to lifelong learning and support for local skills shortages. 

Following 12 years of declining funding for adults and young people, a 2022 report from the Open University and British Chambers of Commerce found that more than 68 per cent of SMEs are currently facing skills shortages, rising to 86 per cent in large organisations. 

He said: “Education, particularly further education, has been central to the skills agenda for some time, and the sector has been tirelessly campaigning in order to get the necessary support from government to successfully close the skills gap. 

“All the industries where skills shortages are being felt most acutely are bridged by Level 4 or 5 skills and qualifications, which are delivered in further education colleges. We will continue campaigning collectively to keep FE front of mind and to remind government of the important role it plays.” 

As part of the campaign on 1 March, the principals were involved in a panel discussion, organised by the Future Skills Coalition, that focused on how the lack of funding for colleges is having a direct impact on the sector’s ability to deliver the skilled workers the economy needs. 

Nikki Davis, Leeds College of Building Principal & CEO, said: “Colleges are vital in addressing significant skills gaps across the economy, including the next generation of skilled construction professionals. Research shows that around a quarter of a million extra construction workers will be needed by 2026 to meet growing demands on the UK sector, and to counter an ageing workforce. 

“Without additional investment in further education, we will not be able to fill critical shortages in priority areas – such as net-zero carbon emissions and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) – and deliver the diverse labour market the country needs.” 

According to the Learning & Work Institute (L&W), 9 million working-aged adults in England have low basic skills in literacy or numeracy, including 5 million who have low skills in both. 

Palvinder Singh, Principal and Chief Executive at Kirklees College, said: “Adult education is essential to local and regional skills needs and for the social mobility of thousands of learners. 

“Insufficient funding for our adult provision limits opportunities for adult learners to gain the vital skills to support the future workforce and economy. This provision is essential for economic growth and productivity.” 

For more information on the campaign, visit Mind the skills gap – Parliamentary activity | Association of Colleges (aoc.co.uk) 

Engineer Alex Johnson is starting the new year in a role she loves and with a management degree apprenticeship in her sights.

Alex is a quality engineer at Baildon-based Produmax where she has been working – through an apprenticeship with the college – for several years.

She has just gained a distinction in her Level 4 apprenticeship in Manufacturing Engineering with the firm, which specialises in high precision engineering for the aerospace sector.

Urged on by our teachers and Produmax’s team to keep pushing herself, Alex is now looking forward to starting a Level 6 Chartered Management degree apprenticeship through the University of Leeds.

She said: “I started on a Level 3 Manufacturing apprenticeship, having found the quality engineer role, and developed my interest in the inspection side of engineering, through Produmax’s work experience programme.

A terrific experience, with no limits to what can be achieved

“I’d encourage anyone to do an apprenticeship – it’s a fantastic way to start a career in any industry, whilst having the ability to continue studying. There are also no limitations to what you can achieve, it’s down to how much work you’re willing to put in.  

“My apprenticeship has been a terrific experience. I’ve been encouraged along the way by the team at Produmax and at Keighley College to work hard and aim high.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my workplace development whilst undertaking the degree apprenticeship.”

Produmax offers several apprenticeship engineering positions, usually starting at the end of August, each year.

Find out more about our apprenticeships at the college here. 

Our Principal has been putting a shift in on the factory floor at Acorn Stairlifts.

Kevin O’Hare visited the Steeton business to find out how a group of students from the college, who are on two-days-a-week supported internships with the firm, were getting on.

Kevin had been invited by the students themselves. He said: “I was asking them about their work at Acorn. They said it was great and that I should come along and ‘do some real work’ too!”

The college’s partnership with Acorn has been running for three years now, and four previous interns have gone on to secure jobs with the company. The current group of four students – Jason Baxter, James Littlewood, Jordan Lindley and Kenny Greenwood – work at Steeton on Thursdays and Fridays, supervised by Acorn staff and their own mentor, Fran Day.

A mutually beneficial partnership

Fran said: “All the supported interns have Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which means they need a little more support initially, until they find their feet.

“I’m here to supervise them at first, then gradually pull back so they can work independently. They learn about productivity and work ethic, but really they just want to work.”

Ryan Baron, Production Manager at Acorn’s Steeton factory, said: “The supported interns are brilliant, they’re hard working and have fitted in really well. The work they do – assembling components for our stairlift rails – is work that our guys would actually be doing on the line.

“We move it off the line until they get the hang of it, but they still have to meet demand for the components and they don’t let us down. The work they’re doing helps them to gain skills and experience and helps us too, so the partnership with the college benefits us both.”

A brilliant opportunity to gain valuable life skills

Kevin, speaking during his visit, added: “It’s a brilliant opportunity for the students to understand what life’s like in a working environment, seeing the different processes and how the workplace is structured, from the reception, the canteen, right through to the factory floor.

“It’s a valuable experience, and we often forget how important that is. The work is important, but the context of the work is too. It’s what I call residual learning – it’s about social interaction, navigation, orientation, timekeeping.

“It’s not on any curriculum or part of any course programme, but these are valuable life skills we all need to acquire.”

Acorn Stairlifts, which has factories in Yorkshire and Scotland, is a world leader in the manufacture, installation and innovation of stairlifts.

Though its headquarters are in Steeton the company, which produces 70,000 staircases a year, has sales and service staff across the UK.