Milton Keynes College has been ranked second in England for GCSE English grade progress and 17th for maths grade progress, out of the country’s 155 Further Education colleges. 

The College also ranks joint fifth for English progress among disadvantaged students, a result that reflects the College’s particular commitment to those who face the greatest barriers.  On top of that, Milton Keynes College is in the top 10% nationally for overall English achievement and 25% for overall maths achievement. 

Executive Principal, Cat Marin explains, “Progress scores measure not just whether students pass, but how much ground they gain from their starting point when they first come to college.  It’s real evidence of impact.”   

The latest cohort of students are now in the thick of their exam resits as are thousands of others like them all over the country.  Here at Milton Keynes College, the evidence shows they have a real chance of significantly improving on their results. 

Sally Alexander, CEO and Group Principal, says, “Many young people come to us having found maths and English a real struggle at school, and far from the best frame of mind for resitting their GCSEs with us.  The progress they make here is testament to the dedication of our teaching staff and the sheer determination of our students.”  

Successful student, Gabby Chamberlain, says, “Passing English really came down to staying consistent with my work and practising my writing.  Now that I’ve passed, I have moved on to my Level 2 Childcare course, which I am so happy about.  And I made sure to take advantage of the brilliant feedback from my teachers, which really helped.  Even so, I didn’t expect to get a grade 5.  I am over the moon and it means so much for my future.” 

Cat continues, “These results are life-changing.  Qualifications in English and maths open doors to better jobs, higher earnings and real opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.  Every student who improves their grade is taking a powerful step towards a brighter future.” 

Nationally, just 44% of pupils eligible for free school meals achieve a Grade 4 in both English and maths by age 16, compared with 72% of their more affluent peers.  The financial impact is significant; it’s estimated that a single grade improvement in English GCSE delivers a lifetime increase in earnings of £7,266 per year, rising to £14,579 for maths, a powerful illustration of what is at stake for every student the College Group supports.