Exceptional results for Hopwood Hall College BTEC students

Dione Whalley

Hopwood Hall College students are celebrating an exceptional year. Students, with the support of great staff, have achieved excellent results with university now beckoning many of the college’s Level 3 BTEC students.

A-Level results day didn’t just mean a path to university for sixth form students, over 300 students from Hopwood Hall College received their Level 3 BTEC results and every single one passed their course. Furthermore, 69% of those students achieved the highest grades of Distinction+.

Applied Science student, Dione Whalley, is one of the students now progressing onto university from Hopwood Hall College. She will now 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.”

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

Andrew 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 and 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 similarly unique and exciting job role was Hannah Clegg, who studied early years at the college’s Rochdale campus. She 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!”