Kingsdown mentoring programme helps students achieve their dreams

Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Adorabelle Amaral Shaikh, met excited students and their parents at the secondary in Hyde Road on the biggest day in the education calendar.

Among those to meet Cllr Shaikh was 16-year-old Tegen Commons who, thanks to Kingsdown’s mentoring programme, turned her academic journey around and is now looking forward to studying for a sport and coaching course at Bath College with a view to one day returning as a PE teacher at Kingsdown.

Tegen said: “I was very pleased with my results, but quite nervous before today. I want to go to college and then take a gap year at an American sports camp before coming back to go to Uni and eventually become a PE teacher.”

Jude Ellis, PA to Kingsdown headteacher Emma Leigh-Bennett, mentored Tegen, and said she was incredibly proud of the way she embraced the support available to get the grades she needed.

“I am really proud of Tegen as she was failing in maths and she needed to pass to get her place at college,” explained Jude. “I have been her champion as part of the school’s mentoring programme and we met every week and developed a plan to help her achieve the grades.”

Councillor Adorabelle Amaral Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “It was inspiring to hear how Tegen embraced the mentoring programme and she got her just rewards.

“I hope her story inspires those going into Year 11 this coming academic year. I was delighted to be welcomed into Kingsdown today by Mrs Leigh-Bennett and meeting staff and pupils. This is such a big day for all our secondary schools and I’d just like to say a big well done and offer my best wishes to everyone who received their results today.”

Cllr Shaikh also visited The Deanery Church of England Academy in Wichelstowe where staff and students were celebrating their best ever Grade 5 and above GCSE results in English and Maths.

Jon Young, Executive Principal, The Deanery CofE Academy, said: “It’s such a pleasure to be celebrating the excellent examination results with our pupils. We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved at The Deanery, which only joined The Park Academies Trust last September. The dedication and support of our staff and parents have been instrumental in helping them achieve their full potential, and we wish them every success in their next steps.”

Well over 2,000 pupils in Swindon picked up their results today. There were special celebrations at St Joseph’s Catholic College where Ansley D’Costa achieved Grade 9s (the highest mark) in all 10 of his GCSE subjects.

Jerry Giles, Principal at St Joseph’s, said: “We are really pleased for this young man and all he has achieved – nationally, only about one in 1,000 students manage such results, so this is a fantastic achievement. We are also really proud of all our students who worked so conscientiously, clearly deserving the success they are celebrating today.

“Overall, the results reflect their hard work and positive attitude, as well as the excellent support they’ve had from all the staff here at St Joseph’s and from their parents and families - they should also be proud of themselves!

“We wish all our students the best for the next stage of their education and whatever the future holds for them. May God bless them all.”