7 Film Studies students accepted onto prestigious British Film Institute Programme
Congratulations to a group of our Celluloid students on their successful applications to the prestigious British Film Institute Academy, a competitive and highly sought after academy for aspiring film makers.
Heidi Butterworth, Freya Jacks, Amaani Ali, Harry Holbrook, Finn Boyle, Anna Robinson and Grace Ford were all successful in gaining places onto the Leeds and Bradford BFI Academy Programmes, allowing them the opportunity to explore a range of different aspects to film making including directing, filming, editing and sound, and to work with industry-standard kit and professional mentors from the industry. The students will also gain an additional qualification equitable to a GCSE and a pass to all films in this year’s Leeds International Film Festival.
A huge well done to all 7 students on this exceptional achievement.
Exceptional A Level Results for our Class of 2023
Greenhead College has once again achieved incredible A Level results, confirming its status as one of the best Sixth Form Colleges in the country.
The overall A Level pass rate was 98.2% (national average 97.2%), with 79.6% of all grades at A*-C (national average 75.4%) and 60% at A*-B (national average 52.7%), which is above the national average across all areas. 1276 students gained A Level passes in 3 or more subjects, with 30 students gaining A*/A in 4 or more subjects, and 186 gaining A*/A in 3 subjects.
College Principal Simon Lett said: “This summer’s exams were the first external assessments taken by this year group, as they were unable to sit their GCSEs in 2021 due to the pandemic.
“These fantastic results are a testament to our students’ resilience and high aspirations in incredibly challenging circumstances. They are all exceptional, inspiring, and talented young people and I couldn’t be prouder of them and our dedicated and hardworking staff.”
Greenhead College is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023 with the opening of a new £25 million building containing classrooms, laboratories, and both study and social space for students.
Greenhead artwork to feature as part of Oxfam’s Climate Justice Campaign at Glastonbury Festival
We’re excited to reveal that we have been selected to feature at Oxfam’s Climate Justice Campaign at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
In 2022, Greenhead College supported the Oxfam Climate Justice Postcard campaign where students and staff wrote postcards to the Climate Negotiators at COP27 in a bid to encourage them to commit to climate justice.
Following this, we are proud to reveal that we were chosen as one of 25 schools and colleges nationwide to produce a large banner for display in the interstage zone at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, forming part of Oxfam’s campaign.
Before half term, our A Level Art and Design students worked together with Greenhead Alumnus Jakob Morris from @Morris_Arts, a student from Chelsea College of Arts in London to produce the banner.
Head of Art, Rachel Lumb said: “It has been a great experience for our students working on a large-scale and powerful banner for such an epic festival.”
The issue relating to Climate Justice they have concentrated on is that of gender.
The UN indicates that 80 percent of people displaced by climate change are women and girls. Natural disasters and heightened conflict due to climate disasters increase competition for resources and leave women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals at risk of displacement, in addition to violence and food insecurity.
They wanted the image to be that of strength in the face of adversity which women always have to develop. We didn’t want the woman to depicted as a ‘victim’ but an image that instils feelings of hope and change. The woman featured on the banner is a survivor of drought but also hopefully a survivor of climate change and the inherent injustice and an aspiration of hope.
Exceptional Oxbridge Success 2023
It’s celebrations all round as 20 Greenhead College students are offered places to study at either Oxford or Cambridge, the UK’s most prestigious Universities.
The offers cover an exciting range of degree courses including Music, Engineering, History, Geography, Modern and Medieval Languages, Medicine, Computer Science, Maths, English and more.
We are so proud of all the students involved who really have worked incredibly hard and dedicated huge amounts of time and effort to the gruelling application process.
Greenhead College supports any student aspiring to apply to Oxbridge Universities through its dedicated Oxbridge Support Enrichment Programme. This comprises of masterclasses, interview workshops, presentations by admissions tutors, residential visits, and practice admissions tests.
Imaad Nisar, who came to Greenhead College from Royds Hall Academy and has been offered a place to study Computer Science at Cambridge University said: “Anyone who has thought about applying to Oxbridge should just do it. You might have something or learn something about yourself which you never even realised.”
Richard Pember, Oxbridge Coordinator at Greenhead College said: “We’re incredibly proud of these students. Their education was undoubtedly disrupted during GCSEs, and so to be completing their A Levels, having secured an offer from Cambridge or Oxford, is an incredible achievement.”
Congratulations to the following students:
Alex Franklin Cambridge Engineering
Amaad Ali Cambridge Natural Sciences (Biological)
Charley Tordoff Cambridge Geography
Ella Jancovich Cambridge History
Eric Qiao Cambridge Natural Sciences
Finn Wilson-Leach Oxford Chemistry
Freddie Sugarman Oxford Music
Helen Rawson Oxford Biochemistry
Imaad Nisar Cambridge Computer Science
Isla Barrett Cambridge Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS)
Katie Flook Cambridge Classics
Libby James Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages
Louis Norcup Cambridge French and Spanish
Maddy Wood Cambridge English
Matt Vale Oxford Mathematics
Peter Ashley Oxford Computer Science
Sas Thiyagesh Oxford Medicine
Steven Chen Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Xena Pape Cambridge Biological Natural Sciences
Yoyo Xia Cambridge Medicine
Awards and Reunion: Celebrating our Class of 2022
On Thursday 5th January, we welcomed our Class of 2022 back for an Awards Evening and Reunion at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The event was an opportunity for our Class of 2022 to reunite with their peers and teachers whilst celebrating their remarkable achievements.
Their results, released in summer 2022, were simply outstanding. The overall A Level pass rate was 99.3% (national average was 98.4%), with 88.0% of all grades at A*-C and 71.9% at A*-B, almost 10% higher than the national average of 62.2%. 1174 students gained A level passes in 3 or more subjects, with 44 students gaining A*/A in 4 or more subjects, and 295 gaining A*/A in 3 subjects.
Guests were greeted to a performance by our recent Battle of the Bands winner ‘Third Floor Soul’, then Chair of Governors, Richard Armstrong opened the ceremony. Principal of the College, Simon Lett followed with a round-up of the 2021/22 college year showcasing the impressive talent amongst the year group, and their collective efforts including raising over £2000 for Young Minds.
The special guest of the evening and presenter of the awards was Mary Ahern, former Greenhead College student, CEO of ALPS and daughter of former Principal Kevin Conway. Mary delivered an enlightening presentation about her journey from Greenhead College to CEO of ALPS, including her top tips to our Class of 2022. She spoke of her late father Kevin Conway and his transformative work as Principal and founder of ALPS.
Awards were then handed out for each individual subject plus a handful of special recognition and achievement awards.
The evening concluded with another performance from ‘Third Floor Soul’.
We would like to thank all the individuals and organisations who sponsored a prize for the event.
Gallery
Chemistry Department win prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Education Prize
Greenhead College Chemistry Department has been named the winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Team Prize for Excellence in Secondary and Further Education.
Nominated by their peers, the team was chosen by the RSC’s prestigious panel of judges as one of the most inspirational, innovative and dedicated people in education.
The team has now become a winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Team Prize for Excellence in Secondary and Further Education, for enhancing and enriching the chemistry learning of a huge and diverse group of students by offering a high quality and broad chemistry education and through effective outreach.
Ruth Farnell, Head of Chemistry at Greenhead College said:
“Working with young people can be incredibly rewarding. However, the extent of the work that teams like ours put into ensuring that every student receives not only an outstanding education but also so much more in the way of enthusiasm for and opportunities in chemistry isn’t often recognised. Receiving an accolade like this where our efforts are publicly acknowledged, valued and celebrated means so much to everyone in the team.”
The chemistry team at Greenhead College use their skill, expertise and passion to bring chemistry to life for the almost 1000 students studying in the department. The team have developed an interesting and varied scheme of work that is enhanced and enriched by work outside the classroom.
Students in the department are given opportunities to work with local primary schools to share their love and passion for chemistry with Year 6 children whose enthusiasm for putting on a lab coat and using a Bunsen Burner is infectious. If the students are considering a future in chemistry or research, then there is also the chance to work alongside researchers at the University of Huddersfield to conduct a project as part of our Real World Chemistry enrichment, the results of this work are presented both in the college and at the University using PhD style poster presentations.
The team supports all learners to make the most of their chemistry education whilst at the college. Additional support comes in many forms such as peer mentoring, 11 staffed support sessions a week, a dedicated classroom where students can work quietly in their free time, student study groups and video tutorials covering the entire course. Enhancement in the form of the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, RSC Schools’ analyst competition, RSC Chemistry Olympiad, Cambridge HE+ scheme, Alumni interactions, University outreach talks and trips to Huddersfield University and a residential to the Chemistry department at Oxford all enrich the chemistry curriculum.
Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said:
“It’s of vital importance that we recognise the crucial role that educators play in the advancement of the sciences. And that we commend their ability to inspire and nurture the next generation of bright young minds, so that they can go on to make new discoveries and innovations.
“Society faces many challenges, and educators give us the tools we need to advance our understanding of the world around us and solve many of the problems we encounter. The team’s work demonstrates an outstanding commitment to chemistry education, and it is our honour to celebrate their considerable contribution.”
Gill Reid, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said:
“For many of us as chemists our teachers were our inspiration – their influence in driving the next generation of amazing scientists cannot be underestimated. That’s why I’m so proud of the winners of the Education Horizon Prizes, each of whom demonstrates an infectious passion for learning that sparks young minds to do amazing things.
“This year’s winners set exemplary examples of the impact this can make; it’s no exaggeration to say their successes will be felt for generations to come ”
The Excellence in Education Prizes celebrate inspirational, innovative, and dedicated people working in primary, secondary, further education and higher education – including teachers, technicians and more. These prizes recognise a wide range of skills – from curriculum design to effective teaching, and from personal development to working culture. This category includes specific prizes for teams and for those in the early stages of their career.
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s prizes have recognised excellence in the chemical sciences for more than 150 years. In 2019, the organisation announced the biggest overhaul of this portfolio in its history, designed to better reflect modern scientific work and culture.
Results Day 2022 – Greenhead College leads the way!
Greenhead College has once again achieved incredible A Level results, confirming its status as the No.1 A level College in Yorkshire.
The overall A Level pass rate was 99.3% (national average was 98.4%), with 88.0% of all grades at A*-C and 71.9% at A*-B, almost 10% higher than the national average of 62.2%. 1174 students gained A level passes in 3 or more subjects, with 44 students gaining A*/A in 4 or more subjects, and 295 gaining A*/A in 3 subjects.
College Principal Simon Lett said:
“This summer’s exams were the first external assessments taken by this year group, as they were unable to sit their GCSEs in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“These fantastic results are a testament to our students’ resilience and high aspirations in incredibly challenging circumstances. They are all exceptional, inspiring, and talented young people and I couldn’t be prouder of them and our dedicated and hardworking staff.”
| A*-E Greenhead % | A*-E National % | A*-B Greenhead % | A*-B National % | |
| 2022 | 99.3 | 98.4 | 71.9 | 62.2 |
| 2021 (TAGS) | 99.8 | 99.5 | 71.8 | 69.8 |
| 2020 (CAGS) | 99.8 | 99.7 | 70.8 | 65.4 |
| 2019 | 98.9 | 97.5 | 62.6 | 51.1 |
Greenhead College was inspected by Ofsted in March 2022 and was rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas, with no weaknesses identified.
We are OUTSTANDING!
Click here to read the full report.
Students, Staff and Governors at Greenhead College are celebrating an Outstanding Ofsted result, following a rigorous, four-day inspection in March 2022.
The college is nationally renowned for its A Level provision. It was recently ranked as the top performing Sixth Form College in the north of England for A Level results according to the most recent Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide – the only northern college to make the top 10.
The inspection, which placed a big focus on the quality of the student experience rather than results and other data, left the inspectors so impressed that no weaknesses were identified.
The report recognises the exceptional provision available to students, which enables them to develop into confident and well-rounded individuals. They are encouraged to do their very best and treated as mature adults.
It also acknowledges that behaviour is exemplary, and that students are highly respectful to each other and staff. Students value the college’s holistic approach which emphasises their personal development as much as their academic achievement. The report also praises the College for its extensive mental health and wellbeing support.
Across subject areas, inspectors acknowledged how well teachers plan and use assessment, and provide very helpful feedback so that students can improve their work.
Inspectors also judged that students are well equipped for life after Greenhead, as they benefit from high quality work experience, employer visits and projects. Almost all students progress into higher education or higher-level apprenticeships, including those with high needs, who make progress in line with their peers.
College Principal, Simon Lett, said: “I am thrilled that Ofsted has recognised the exemplary learning culture which exists at Greenhead College. Greenhead nurtures individuality and independence through tailored support and as a result, our students develop skills in advance of their years. I am very pleased that Ofsted has recognised both the high academic standards which exist at the College but also the strong levels of support for safeguarding and wellbeing. The report is testament to the hard work of our staff and the resilience and ambition of our students.”
Richard Armstrong, Chair of the Governing Body at Greenhead College commented: “Greenhead College has been rated outstanding for the last 25 years. The latest Ofsted Inspection confirms that the College remains outstanding, teaching is outstanding, and our students are outstanding. Congratulations to all our staff and students for their amazing dedication and hard work – the Governors are incredibly proud of you all.”
Greenhead College was also recently named as one of the first 50 schools and colleges nationally to benefit from Department for Education funding to improve accommodation in science subjects. A new, purpose-built four-storey building for Biology, Chemistry, Politics and Psychology will open next year in time for the 50th anniversary of the College.
Greenhead College shortlisted for a duo of prestigious awards
We’re delighted to share the news that Greenhead College has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards in the Educate North Awards 2022.
The Educate North Awards is a prestigious awards event which celebrates, recognises, and shares best practice and excellence in the education sector in the North. The winners will be revealed at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 7th April 2022.
Greenhead College has been shortlisted in the following categories:
The FE College of the Year award – an award to honour the leading further education institution within the North of United Kingdom. Greenhead College is amongst just 3 College’s in the shortlist for this award.
The Social Mobility award – an award which recognises institutions that are supporting the education and/or employment prospects of their students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Simon Lett, Principal at Greenhead College commented:
“I am thrilled that Greenhead College has been shortlisted for these prestigious awards. This is a real testament to the professionalism and dedication of the College’s teaching and support staff, and the high standards achieved by our students.”