Bedford College has celebrated the success of four students who arrived in the UK as refugees and asylum seekers and have just passed their GCSE maths exams.
The students, who began learning English from scratch, have achieved this alongside rebuilding their lives in a new country.
Faisal Abdallah, Ha Nhat Tran, Khan-Ly Nguyen and Nam Nguyen have been studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Bedford College, which supports people whose first language is not English to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
Alongside learning English, the four have worked their way from entry-level maths through Functional Skills qualifications and on to GCSE standard, all while adjusting to life in a new country – an achievement their lecturer described as “remarkable”.
Faisal Abdallah, who fled Sudan, and Ha Nhat Tran both achieved grade 4s in GCSE maths, while Khan-Ly Nguyen and Nam Nguyen achieved grade 5s.
All four began their maths studies at entry level following an initial assessment before progressing through Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Skills to reach GCSE standard.
Faisal described how proud he was to be part of the Bedford College Group.
“I thank the teachers and students who have helped us all to achieve great things,” he said.
“When we came to this country, we didn’t know anything about England, or the language, and since being here for two years we have all gained a lot of experience and the qualifications, and we’re proud to be here.”
Lecturer Kevin Norley said the results reflect the determination of students studying English and maths across The Bedford College Group.
Many are rebuilding their lives in the UK while working towards qualifications that will help them take their next steps into further education, training and employment.
“Fantastic achievement”
Mr Norley, lecturer in functional skills for maths and English at Bedford College, said: “We are incredibly proud of what Faisal, Ha Nhat, Khan-Ly and Nam have achieved.
“Their results are a testament to the hard work, determination and dedication they have shown throughout their time at Bedford College.
“Reaching GCSE standard is a fantastic achievement in itself, but to do so while learning in a new language and adjusting to life in a new country makes their success even more remarkable.
“They have worked extremely hard to progress from entry level through Functional Skills and onto GCSE maths, and it has been a real privilege to see how far they have come.
“Their success also reflects the dedication of the teaching teams who have supported them along the way, particularly our English teachers, who play such an important role in helping students develop the language skills and confidence they need to progress.
“The whole College is delighted to see their hard work rewarded and we’re excited to see what they go on to achieve next.”
The Bedford College Group offers English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Functional Skills courses across its colleges, supporting students to develop the English and maths skills they need to progress into further study, apprenticeships and employment.
