Students at Coleg Gwent — one of Wales’ top colleges for choice — are celebrating today (15 August) as they collect BTEC, AS and A-Level results at the college’s Blaenau Gwent, Crosskeys, Newport, Usk and Torfaen campuses.
67% of students at the college achieved A*-C A-level grades, while more than 1,000 learners completed a BTEC qualification — enabling learners to take their first steps into higher education and new careers.
Molly McAlorum from Newport is just one of the delighted learners getting ready to embark on a new chapter after achieving exceptional results (Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction). Following two years at Coleg Gwent, the Level 3 Business Diploma student will now embark on a prestigious business apprenticeship at GE Aerospace.
Molly said: “I started my time at Coleg Gwent not really knowing what I wanted to do as a career — but my time at the college opened my eyes to a whole world of opportunities which I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“After securing the interview with GE Aerospace I had amazing support from my personal tutor, who spent hours helping me prepare. This gave me the very best opportunity of being successful and as I stand here today with my equally successful diploma results, I feel so proud and grateful.”
However, Molly’s journey to success was not always an easy one. Like many young people in Wales today, her education ran in parallel with a difficult mental health journey.
As a result of increasing symptoms of anxiety, Molly transitioned to home-education during her final year of school — making her return to college and results achieved even more impressive.
She continued: “I was very apprehensive about starting college — but I met with the mental health team at Coleg Gwent beforehand and was put at ease straight away.”
Molly’s personal tutor at Coleg Gwent, Sarwat Hamid, said: “In the face of significant personal struggles, Molly has demonstrated remarkable strength and perseverance — not only achieving academic excellence but also engaging in positive extracurricular pursuits, as a coach for the local girls’ football team.
“Throughout her journey, Molly has shown a commendable willingness to seek support and engage in self-care practices to manage her mental health effectively. This has been demonstrated by taking the support offered at Coleg Gwent through counselling and our CG Support team.
“Overall, Molly’s journey and very exciting upcoming apprenticeship serves as a powerful reminder that with determination, support, and a positive mindset, one can overcome even the most daunting challenges.”
In addition to BTEC and A-level success, over 150 adult learners have successfully completed their Access to Higher Education courses with Coleg Gwent and will be progressing on to a degree course at university.
This includes Kamal Shah, who after studying on the Access to Higher Education Bioscience course at Coleg Gwent, will be studying Biology at the University of Bath. He said: “I didn’t continue my second year of A-levels due to a serious illness — completing the access course seemed like a good option for still being able to go to university.
“If you have the time to do the course and you want to get to university, then this course is perfect.”
Nicola Gamlin, Deputy Principal, said: “As the new incoming Principal of Coleg Gwent, I am proud to witness the exceptional achievements of our students once again this year. These results are a testament to their hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of our dedicated staff.
“We look forward to seeing the talent developed at Coleg Gwent progress on to their next steps — whether through further education or entering the world of work. Congratulations to all our students for their outstanding achievements.”
