STUDENTS and staff at the Wiltshire College & University Centre in Salisbury celebrated bright futures in the sunshine as they collected results today (August 13).

The educational site saw a 96% pass rate in this year’s vocational technical Level 3 qualifications – with many courses seeing a 100% pass rate, including Animal Management, Equine, Travel and Tourism, Motorsport and Art and Design.

At T Level, which combines classroom and practical study with 315 hours of industry placement, the college saw 94% of students passing at the end of their two year course, with 100% in Digital, Business, Land-Based Engineering and Midwifery.

There were beaming smiles everywhere as students prised open their results envelopes to bring their anxious wait to an end.

At the Salisbury campus, T Level Health student Lauren Bueno de Mesquita, 18, from Warminster, was celebrating not only a Distinction but a new job.

“The result is amazing. I really, really wasn’t expecting it at all. I’ve had to put a lot of hard work in over the past two years,” she said.

“The course was challenging because there was so much to learn and the placements at Salisbury District Hospital were tough at times, but so worth it.”

Lauren Bueno de Mesquita

She starts back at the hospital next week as a pharmacy support worker.

“While on my placement I decided I wanted to do laboratory work and I saw the job on the NHS website,” she said.

“I mentioned the placement at the interview and they were really happy that I had that experience. That’s what helped me to get in, I think. Now I’m really excited about starting.”

T Level Management and Administration students Brook Higgs and Elizabeth Love, both 18, were delighted with Merits.

“I’m really pleased, it’s what we need for a lot of jobs and apprenticeships that we want so I’m excited,” said Brooke, from Gillingham.

Elizabeth, from Bourton, added: “I’ve been applying for a lot of different roles likes sales representative or administration work, anything that looks nice. The course has helped because we’ve researched a lot of different companies and now I can use all of that knowledge and put it into a real-life situation.”

Brooke Higgs and Elizabeth Love

Brooke said apart from the insight into the business world, the course has left her with a new network of friends. “We’ve made a really close group of friends and that has been great,” she said.

Fellow student Oliver Spicer, 18, from Bourton was pleased with his Merit. “I don’t know what I want to do yet I’m still thinking,” he said. “I liked the course and I’ve made a lot of good friends.”

Jo Grenfell, deputy principal curriculum & quality, said the results reflect the hard work the college has seen from students over the past two years.

“These excellent results are a testament to the hard work of our students and the expertise and commitment of our teaching and support teams.

“Achieving a 94% pass rate in T Levels and a 96% pass rate in vocational and technical qualifications highlights our high-quality education and training.

“Our students leave us equipped with the knowledge, professional behaviours and technical expertise that employers and universities are looking for. We are delighted to see so many learners progressing to ambitious destinations and contributing to the future workforce of Wiltshire and beyond.”

For more information about WCUC visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk.

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