Transforming Lives Through Maths and English

There’s a new initiative at Hartlepool College of Further Education to tackle achievement levels in GCSE English and maths. Action is needed to return results to pre-COVID levels, and this new programme will bridge lost time and gaps in education.

The College has partnered with Get Further, a specialist tutoring organisation that provides additional one-to-one support for students working toward their GCSE qualifications. The Get Further programme offers students an extra hour of specialised, impactful tutoring each week, delivered by highly-qualified tutors who understand the unique challenges facing post-16 learners.

Stacey Carberry, Deputy Head of English and Maths, has stated: "We're hopeful that by providing a student with more hours of specialised learning, we end up with more successful results for that student.” The programme uses a carefully sequenced curriculum designed specifically for post-16 education, addressing the particular needs of students who are balancing GCSE resits alongside their chosen vocational courses.

For Stacey, the initiative is about more than just improving pass rates – it's about opening up opportunities for students by breaking down the barriers that prevent people from reaching their potential. "Many people have anxieties around literacy and numeracy, perhaps due to experiences they had at school. Often, students tell us these are subjects that they've never felt good enough at," she explains. “We want to remove those anxieties for people and support them to feel confident in their skills, which will in turn strengthen their ability to access career opportunities.”

There are disproportionately low levels of literacy and numeracy for adults over 18 in the local area, but Stacey has seen firsthand how achieving these fundamental qualifications can change things. "I want students to understand that achieving their GCSE or Functional Skill in these core subjects will open up so many doors," she emphasises. "There are so many workplaces and universities which now consider good literacy and numeracy skills essential to access a job or a course in any subject or area."

The Get Further partnership is part of a broader literacy campaign that's gaining momentum across Hartlepool. Following a successful literacy event in February that brought together people from all areas of the town, the college has been exploring partnerships with local employers and the council to expand adult literacy and numeracy provision. Stacey notes that there’s plenty of potential for collaborative approaches emerging across the community, supporting people of all age ranges to strengthen their skills for better career prospects.

Stacey’s advice to anyone considering the programme is straightforward: "The extra effort that you give in the short term will benefit your life enormously in the long term. So, get engaged, work hard, and you'll be able to achieve your full potential."

The Get Further initiative represents an investment in the future of Hartlepool's learners and the community as a whole. By providing the support students need to achieve these crucial qualifications, the college is helping to transform lives and break cycles of educational disadvantage that have held back too many talented individuals.

For more information about this exciting initiative, you can contact Stacey Carberry directly by phone on 01429 404205 or by email: stacey.carberry@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk