A science-loving learner from Taff’s Well is celebrating an impressive academic comeback after choosing to resit his A levels to achieve the results he knew he was capable of – a decision that’s now led to a coveted place at University College London (UCL) to study a specialist medical science degree.
19-year-old George Bourton, a learner at Coleg y Cymoedd, will be heading to UCL in September to study Infection and Immunity – a field he’s grown passionate about in recent years, particularly following the pandemic after achieving AAAB in his Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths a levels.
It’s a huge achievement for the former Hawthorn High School pupil, who initially saw his grades drop in his second year of college after a strong start. After securing four As at AS level, George admits he underestimated the leap to A2. Juggling too many hours at his part-time job, he struggled to maintain his academic focus and ended the year with ABBC – not quite enough for the medicine offer he had hoped for.
Rather than rush into university through clearing, George made the difficult decision to resit the year and give it everything he had. “It was hard watching all my friends go off to uni, but I knew I had to do what was right for me,” he said. “I wasn’t proud of my grades – they didn’t reflect what I could do.”
With a renewed mindset, George cut back his work hours, rebuilt his study routine, and focused on preparing for the degree he truly wanted. While he still has his sights set on a career in medicine, he now plans to take a more research-led route – beginning with UCL’s Infection and Immunity degree, where he hopes to specialise in immunology.
“I’m really excited about this course because it’s exactly what I’m interested in – a mix of research, lab work and real-world application. The pandemic really brought home how vital this kind of work is, and I want to be part of that.”
George says the experience of redoing the year taught him lessons that will serve him far beyond college: “In a way, I’m glad it happened. College gave me more independence than school, and I didn’t handle that very well at first. But if I’d gone to university straight away, I probably would’ve struggled there instead. Now I’ve learned how to manage my own time, how to study smarter – I feel genuinely ready.”
In addition to his studies, George is a keen pianist and hopes to return to taekwondo – a sport he once practised up to one level below black belt – through the society at UCL.
He’s also gained experience working in a care home and shadowing a local GP, helping to build his understanding of patient care and clinical settings.
Reflecting on the support he’s had, George praised his tutors at Coleg y Cymoedd: “They’ve been amazing. When my A2 grades dropped, my tutors were really supportive and reminded me that my grades didn’t reflect my potential. They knew I could do better, and they didn’t let me give up. That meant a lot.”
Now preparing to take the next step in his academic journey, George is proud of how far he’s come and is more determined than ever to pursue his goal of becoming a doctor and specialising in hospital-based immunology.
