From ESOL to University: Zahra's Triumph in Pursuit of a Pharmacy Degree
Zahra Jafaripoo, who arrived in the UK from Tehran, Iran, four years ago, has achieved a remarkable milestone in her educational journey to secure a place to study for a degree in Pharmacy.
Zahra's journey in the UK began with the challenges of adapting to a new country and language. The COVID-19 pandemic brought additional difficulties, as she spent a year at home, caring for her newborn daughter while striving to improve her English. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, taking an ESOL Entry 2 test and progressing to Entry 3, even while pregnant. Balancing motherhood and studies was no easy task, but Zahra's determination never wavered.
Her dedication caught the attention of her tutors, who recognised her potential and encouraged her to push herself further. Zahra worked tirelessly to improve her English skills, eventually reaching ESOL Level 1. Her English teacher, Mark Tooke, saw her potential and suggested she take an assessment to advance to a higher level.
This encouragement led Zahra to enrol in GCSE English and Maths courses at Hugh Baird College while studying an Access to Higher Education course. Through hard work and her tutors' support, Zahra achieved these qualifications, which was a crucial step towards her goal of studying pharmacy. She is now set to begin her studies at either the University of Central Lancashire or Manchester Metropolitan University, where she plans to pursue her dream of running her own pharmacy.
Reflecting on her journey, Zahra expressed her deep gratitude for the support she received at Hugh Baird College.
There were no barriers at Hugh Baird College. The College helped me a lot and made me feel at peace. They provide everything you need to succeed, including one-to-one support with tutors. I cannot thank them enough.
Zahra also offered special thanks to her English tutor, Mark Tooke, whose belief in her potential made all the difference.
A huge thank you to Mark. He believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself.
This year, for students aged 19 and above, GCSE Maths students at Hugh Baird College performed 22.1 percentage points above the national average for high grades. The success story extends to GCSE English, where students aged 19 and over outperformed the national average by 10.7 percentage points in high grades.
In the 16-18 age group, students at Hugh Baird College achieved outstanding results in GCSE Maths, with high grades surpassing the national average by an impressive 12.2 percentage points.
Applications at Hugh Baird College are still open for September 2024 entry. Tap here to apply.
National average data: Association of College’s Post-16 GCSE English and maths Results briefing: August 2024.
