Information for Learners

Testimonials

Anastasia Bykova (19)

A-levels 

Anastasia came to the UK from Russia and in the past five years has learnt English from scratch as her third language. She has studied A-level English Language, Law, History and Philosophy at City of Bath College and has a place at Cambridge to study Law, dependent on three A-grades. She describes herself as ‘cosmopolitan' and hopes to become a barrister specialising in international law.

"I suppose I have an ear for languages - it took me two years to pick up English when my mum and I moved to England. Friends used to say I had an accent, but now that's faded away. In Russia, we were taught French at school rather than English, and the teaching was much more formal, but I wouldn't say strict necessarily.

"I enjoyed my two interviews at Cambridge. The introduction was with a Physics Professor, and actually one of my favourite books is a big volume of physics, so that helped break the ice. I really like sciences and if I wasn't doing law, I'd like to get into engineering or robotics.

"I don't feel I'm anything special, I'm actually quite a boring person. Moving to England was just something which happened; you deal with it as it comes. I dare anyone to try it."

 

Ben Carris Smith (17)

Performing Arts

"I just love the course I'm on now - it's so much more practical than the one I did at St Laurence's. In my first year at Bath College, the TV series Skins came to audition and I was selected! I've done eight episodes already, which has been hard work, but amazing experience. After I finish my second year I want to go on to do musical theatre at LIPA and hopefully more TV work."

 

Ed Wyles (18)

A-levels

Between years seven and 11, Ed and the schools he attended were ‘mutually incompatible' and he was expelled from two of the three. At 16, he went on to do A-level Physics, Chemistry and fast-track Sociology at City of Bath College where he found the freedom and teaching style ‘much more agreeable'. Due to family issues, his applications to university weren't made until late in May. As an able student, he was offered a place at the prestigious School of Pharmacy, but felt he didn't fit in. Instead he has chosen to do his MPharm at Kingston University London.

"I certainly wouldn't say it's been easy. I'd had a few fights over the years at school, and never did just bow down to authority when being reprimanded. Basically, if the teacher had never done anything to earn my respect, it was doubtful they would be shown any when they started shouting at me.

"Bath College really suited me. It's much more relaxed, you don't have to be there all the time and they help you to do well, rather than hinder you. My tutor, Larissa, was fantastic.

"I really liked Kingston Uni, it's got a bright feel. I didn't feel the same about the London School of Pharmacy, even though it's the top place in the country. The labs and tutors felt rather cold and I didn't see anybody there who seemed to be from my background. I wasn't sure how many friends I would end up making."

  

Joshua Muggleton (19)

A-levels

Josh was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of Autism, when he was 15. Having suffered four years of extreme bullying at school, he left at 16 in what he describes as "a dire state" with eight mediocre GCSEs, and was told university was out of the question. The transition to Farleigh, a specialist residential college in Frome, Somerset, for students with Asperger's, and tuition at City of Bath College, has enabled Josh to flourish. He now has a place at St Andrews University to study Psychology, based on predicted A-level grades of two As and one B in Maths, Psychology and Business Studies. Josh is one of 15 young people in Channel 4's YearDot, a TV series and MySpace programme of blogs, video diaries and messaging covering a defining year of their lives.

"In the past two years at college, I've been treated as an adult, not a child, and I've felt respected by the teachers, which is rare in mainstream secondaries. The way I've been taught has built up my strengths and minimised my weaknesses. Being at Bath College has also given me a lot of independence and has been a great stepping stone to university life.

"Initially I hadn't met the entry grade for Maths A-level, but they gave me a chance and believed I could do a lot better. Now I'm hoping for an A grade and enjoy it so much I'll be making maths part of my degree.
"Both my brothers have Autism, and since I was diagnosed with Asperger's, I've been giving talks to parents and professionals about living with Autism. It's my dream to become a clinical psychologist - I've always wanted to help people and I think this is the best way for me to do it.
"One of my goals over the next year is to make five friends at university. This may sound easy for most people, but [with Asperger's] I'm expecting it to be my hardest task. Give me a psychology text book and I'm happy for days, but the idea of going out during freshers' week and making friends terrifies me."

Matt Carfrae (21)

Music Technology ND

"I'd been a chef for three years but decided to follow what I really loved, which was making music. I already DJ-ed a lot, so the course was the right choice and actually taught me far more than I was expecting. There's no where else in the South West which has such good facilities, plus the tutors are great and there's a lot of one-to-one support.

"Now I'm doing a specialist course at uni in London so I can become a musical engineer working with live sound."

 

Natasha Rampley

Natasha had ‘dabbled' with glass as part of her BA in Fine Art at the University of Central England, and was drawn back to the medium while working full-time in London. She recently spent 4 years at Bath College doing a City and Guilds and then a Diploma in Glass. Now based at her own studio in Trowbridge, Natasha runs Arts4Health, creating architectural glass and mosaics for healing environments by working in close collaboration with patients and staff.

"I really enjoy using the skills passed down over hundreds of years. I learnt so much more on these courses than during my degree.

 

News and events

New students get a taste of college life

Hundreds of new students visited City of Bath College this week to get their first experience of further education through a series of induction days.

SU President has big plans

City of Bath College's new Student Union President David Lewis, 17, has big plans for the coming year, including strengthening the student community through social events and clubs.