By Sarah Walker
26 August 2026
Advice from Stockton Sixth Form College head aims to inspire
Young people who didn’t get the GCSE grades they wanted, adults who want to learn a new subject or skill and those who have a specific career in mind can all be accommodated through the “distinctive curriculum” offered by Stockton Sixth Form College.
That’s the message from Mike Mackin, head of centre at the college, based on Bishopton Road West, as the enrolment period continues.
Mike says that results never define what you can ultimately achieve – and whatever your ambitions, the door to the college is open.
“You shouldn’t make a decision about your future based purely on one set of results,” he says.
“GCSE results are important, but they don’t define a young person or what they can ultimately achieve.
“I’ve worked in post-16 education for many years – and I’ve seen countless students arrive disappointed with their results who have gone on to achieve extremely well.
“My practical advice would be to come and talk to us as there are often far more options available than students or parents realise.”
The friendly staff at Stockton Sixth Form College are ready to sit down with pupils to explore their post-16 education options, look at their results, talk about what they enjoy and where they want to get to – and then work out the best route.
“For some students, that might mean starting their planned Level 3 programme with a slightly different combination of subjects,” Mike says.
“For others, it might mean taking a Level 2 programme and improving GCSE English, maths or science before progressing further.”
From a personal perspective, Mike says it’s important not to compare your results with everybody else’s.
“Results day and the period after that can make it feel as though everybody has followed the same journey and that simply isn’t true,” he says.
“Some of the students who have impressed me most during my career are those who have faced a setback, responded positively and used it as motivation.
“What matters now isn’t just what happened on results day. It’s what you do next.”
The door to Stockton Sixth Firm College is also firmly open to adult learners.
Mike says: “The college isn’t just about 16-to-19 education.
“Our adult education provision continues to grow as well, providing opportunities for people in the local community who want to return to education, develop new skills or improve their employment and progression opportunities.
“Whether somebody needs a Level 2 stepping stone, wants a traditional A Level programme, prefers a vocational or technical route, or is returning to education as an adult, there is a route available to them at Stockton Sixth Form College.”
A Level pass rates at the college reached 98%, marking a third consecutive year of improvement, while its BTEC programmes achieved 100% success for the second consecutive year.
First-year students on the new T Level Health and Engineering programmes also achieved 100% success in their examinations.
“Those figures are important because they demonstrate the direction in which the college is moving, but I’m equally proud of what sits behind those results,” Mike said.
“A sixth form experience should be about much more than collecting qualifications.
“We want students to leave us as confident young adults who understand the opportunities available to them.
“That’s why we place such importance on enrichment, careers, employer engagement and experiences beyond the classroom.”
At Stockton Sixth Form College, students have opportunities to take part in international trips and experiences, hear from guest speakers and employers, engage with universities and apprenticeship providers and experience activities linked directly to the careers they are considering.
Every year, the college also increases opportunities to bring the workplace into the curriculum.
“Our health students, for example, learn in our specialist hospital ward environment, while engineering students benefit from specialist facilities and employer engagement,” Mike says.
“Our aviation students have access to experiences and equipment that make their learning feel connected to the real aviation industry.
“Those opportunities matter because they build confidence, aspiration and independence.
“A student may hear a guest speaker, visit an employer or take part in an international experience and suddenly see a career or university route they had never previously considered.”
Mike adds the college’s “distinctive curriculum” sees it continue with familiar subjects such as English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography and the social sciences, while also offering courses that give students the chance to explore something completely new.
“Subjects such as Politics, Environmental Science, Photography, Economics, Law and Psychology can introduce students to new disciplines, new ways of thinking and, in many cases, new career or university pathways they may not previously have considered,” Mike says, adding one exciting development for 2026 is the return of its Spanish A Level.
Alongside A Levels, the college’s vocational and technical curriculum is becoming an increasingly important part of what it does, with successful BTEC programmes and T Levels in Health and Engineering.
“Our Aviation programme is also particularly distinctive,” Mike says.
“Students are not simply learning aviation theory; they have access to specialist facilities and flight-related experiences designed to give them a genuine insight into the industry and the different careers within it.”
Speaking of his pride in the college, Mike adds: “I’m proud that our results are improving while at the same time the experience we provide for students is getting richer.
“For me, those two things have to go together.”
For more information, visit the college’s website.
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