Inspiring journeys lead to GCSE triumph at River Tees Hospital School
Students celebrated with staff as they collected their GCSE results after a hospital school transformed their lives.
Isabelle Cuttell admits she probably wouldn’t have achieved any passes had she stayed in mainstream education where she tried to study while living with undiagnosed ADHD.
But after switching to River Tees Hospital School for two years she achieved eight GCSEs and will now study health and social care at Stockton Riverside College with a view to helping others in similar positions to herself.
“I couldn’t concentrate at mainstream school and was always in trouble,” said the 16-year-old, of Middlesbrough. “I even stopped going for a while. I was diagnosed with environmental ADHD so I needed a calmer environment.
“I always struggled with maths but with help from my teachers managed to pass and I got a grade 7 in my English. The Hospital School teachers are amazing. They believe in you, give you support and praise and never give up. The smaller classes help. There is nowhere to hide but you are never left struggling.
“I now want to do something like this, in education or as a social worker, as I want to help children like me.”
Isabelle is now looking forward to college life. “I have so much more patience now and have learned the skills I will need to go to college,” she said. “Even my old friends notice a real difference in me.”
Classmate Jessica Boden also had high praise for a school which helped her gain eight GCSEs including a grade 8.
The 16-year-old, of Middlesbrough, will now study accountancy, law and business A levels after moving to Hospital School in Year 9.
Chronically shy at mainstream school Jessica has now secured volunteering work at Teesside Hospice, something she would never have had the courage to do before going to Hospital School.
Her studies were also interrupted last year after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease but staff at Hospital School helped her catch up with her learning whilst in hospital.
“School helped me find a passion for maths and I now want to become an accountant,” said Jessica, who was presented with the school’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
River Tees Grange Town pupil Mahmoud Kasim achieved eight GCSEs after fleeing Syria to study in England and being unable to speak any English when he arrived.
The 16-year-old is planning to study catering at Middlesbrough College and hopes one day to run his own kebab shop.
“I just had to understand what people were saying so learned how to speak English,” said Mahmoud, who came to England when he was five and is now bilingual.
“The small class sizes really helped me as it meant I could have closer relationships with the staff and it was easier to concentrate.”
River Tees Hospital School head Adam Burns said: “We celebrate more than just exam results, we celebrate extraordinary perseverance, quiet determination and the unseen battles our Year 11 pupils have overcome to reach this point. Our Year 11s are inspiring. Their journey to this moment has not been typical, but it has been powerful and we couldn’t be prouder.”