News & Press
Uxbridge College students are celebrating strong results in 2021 in spite of the challenges caused by the pandemic over the last 18 months.
A massive effort by students and staff, despite the many ongoing changes and uncertainties surrounding learning and assessment, has seen an impressive number achieving coveted quadruple and triple A* and A grades at A Level.
Robust teacher-assessed grades practices have produced a solid set of grades reflecting the consistent hard work of students, many of whom have produced excellent grades as well as showing tremendous personal improvements.
Achievers this year included:
* Rebecca Sheridan (pictured right) achieved A* grades in English Literature, Politics and Sociology, and will be studying English Literature at Durham University. She said: “It’s been amazing studying at Uxbridge College - I’ve really loved it.”
* Mustafa Rizvi (left) got A* grades in Business Studies and Maths and a B in Physics - he will be studying Accountancy & Finance at degree level.
* Katy Hulatt achieved A* grades in English Literature, Law and Psychology and is going to study Law and Criminology at Lancaster Uni.
* Derreisha McMillan’s results were A* in English Language, Media Studies, and Sociology - she is going to Leeds to study Film and English.
* Naomi Cruz who will be going to university abroad, achieved an A* in Maths, and As in Chemistry and Physics.
* Sohrab Ansari is on his way to Bristol University to study Dentistry after achieving an A and 2 Bs, having progressed from taking GCSEs at college. He said: “I am really grateful to my teachers and to student support for all the advice I had. I have learned many life lessons as well as achieving my goals.”
* Rukhsar Ahmad is going on to study Medicine after five years of study at Uxbridge College, beginning with an ESOL course. She achieved A grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
A total of 98% A Level students achieved A*-E grades, with 77% at high grades A*C. A total of 95 students sat A Levels.
Dr Darrell DeSouza, CEO of the merged college group HCUC, said: “I’d like to offer huge congratulations to all our students for how well they’ve done in what have been incredibly challenging times, as well as to our staff in teaching and supporting them.
“Our students have impressed with a resilience that is now realised in their strong results. I have no doubt that the results will be valued by universities and employers, which is borne out by the number of students going to their first choice of university. The same also applies to our Level 3 vocational results such as our BTECs and UAL qualifications, which are also seeing large numbers of students progressing to Higher Education. Our strength in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects continues, which is a further boost for the College’s developing West London Institute of Technology, which provides tremendous opportunities for students interested in progressing to employer linked, Higher Technical Qualifications, as an alternative to a degree.”
Dylan McTaggart, Principal of Uxbridge College, said: “As incoming Principal of Uxbridge College this year, I am incredibly proud to see how well our students have done at A Level despite the many challenges of the pandemic. Our past successes have given us the strong foundations to thrive even through such difficult times, including opening a brand new Creative Arts building, and hosting the West London Institute of Technology building on site.”
Students can take confidence in the validity of their results as the college has applied the range of quality assurance approaches, including the use of exam board materials for key assessments, taken under exam conditions and a rigorous standardisation against awarding body mark schemes.
GCSE and Level 2 Vocational Results are Now In!
Massive congratulations to our GCSE and other Level 2 achievers in BTECs, C&G and NCFE/CACHE. In total, 82% of GCSE students received higher grades 9-4 (equivalent to A*-C under the old system) - amazing! This is despite another incredibly challenging year under pandemic restrictions and uncertainties.
Many of these students will be progressing with us at college, either to A Level or other full-time vocational areas, or perhaps considering an Apprenticeship.
GCSE successes may come in the shape of the 5-subject package - either as re-sits, or taken for the first time, over a year. Alternatively students may have taken maths and English alongside Level 3 qualifications and been able to fulfil the requirements for university entry.
Are you, a friend, or a family member unsure what to do after receiving your GCSE results? Drop in to our advice and enrolment sessions, call us on 01895 853336 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Students on Creative Arts courses at Uxbridge College have transformed a plain corridor with a vivid mural they designed themselves.
The students worked together to design and paint the 32 foot long mural on the corridors of their study area.
The project to create the orange, black and white abstract design took around two weeks and helped the students develop skills in planning, organisation, attention to detail and completion of the commissioned art and design project.
The students are on Creative Arts courses at Levels 1, 2 and 3 - learners on these courses often progress within the college to a higher level, or go on to university.
Seth Maximen, Art & Design Lecturer, said: “This was a really successful project and they did an excellent job of combining creativity and originality with all the practical requirements such as working out how much paint they needed! It is quite a complex task as well to transfer a small paper design onto a wall, but they did an amazing job of it. We think it’s a great result and it’s definitely made the corridor look a whole lot better.”
Sales representatives from Riviera Travel and Silversea recently shared their knowledge and experience with over 80 budding travel professionals.
Paul Mellon, key account manager at Riviera Travel, and Helen Crosbie, national and key account manager UK & Ireland at Silversea, held a remote session with students at Uxbridge College (part of the merged college group HCUC) on the paths their careers have taken them, as well as giving pointers on the cruise industry.
The guest speakers also covered off popular itineraries and destinations, guest demographics, and some of the key advantages and differences between ocean and river cruises.
The duo were invited by ex-Virgin Atlantic sales representative Natalie Connell, who now works as a travel and tourism lecturer at the college. Prior to starting at the college last year, Natalie was at Virgin Atlantic for 10 years. She began her career as ground staff at Heathrow whilst studying for her degree in Airline and Airport Management, before becoming a cabin crew member for three years. She was appointed a partnership development executive in the leisure sales team before moving into teaching.
Natalie's students are currently studying towards their travel and tourism qualifications, which begin at Level 1 diploma and progress to higher education HNC and HND programmes.
Natalie said: “We arranged the guest talk as part of our enrichment programme for students as this year has seen a halt to our usual work experience and overseas educational visits. It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to hear from our two guest speakers from Riviera Travel and Silversea cruises – not only did they share their product knowledge, but inspired them with their stories of how they developed their careers, from their own training at college to full time work in the industry. It would be great to work with them further going forward, particularly as the industry starts to pick up again now Covid restrictions are being relaxed.”
Paul said: “It was a pleasure to meet the students and help give them further insight into the background and benefits of a river cruise. Hopefully I’ve helped add to their knowledge of our sector – river sailings are a fantastic option, and the students were clearly keen to hear more. It was also helpful to talk up their sustainability credentials, which are becoming an increasing priority for both travel professionals and the wider public.”
Helen said: "It was such a great opportunity to be able to meet all the students virtually to talk about the wonderful world of the Silversea cruise product. I hope that they feel inspired and now have a greater understanding of the luxury and expedition cruise industry. I also really enjoyed giving them an insight into my varied travel industry career from the past 27 years, particularly as my journey into travel began with NVQ qualifications at college."
Dovalki Dejuie Mendes Ataide, Level 5 HND International Travel and Tourism student – who has been accepted onto a top-up degree at Northampton University thanks to her HND, and will join the final year of study - said: "The talks were inspiring and the images of the cruises really helped bring everything to life. It was very useful to hear about the specific routes, itineraries and excursions offered as well as sustainable practices.
“The talks also gave us a better understanding of the difference experienced on an ocean cruise and river cruise, and the opportunities to experience different cultures and meet up with local people.”