By Sarah Walker
23 June 2026
Prior Pursglove College invites those who recently finished GCSEs to join them for the day on June 29th
The end of GCSEs is always tinged with anxiety, as secondary school pupils look to make the transition to college life – and worry about the opportunities they might be left with once they receive their results.
However, those thinking about further education are being urged to spend a day in the life of a student at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough on June 29th, when you can find a course to suit you, whatever your exam results.
Angela Stevenson, acting head of Prior Pursglove College, which is part of the Atomix Educational Trust, remembers the anxiety of results day well.
“It can be overwhelming, with thoughts racing through your mind like ‘what happens if I don’t achieve the grades I need?’ and ‘what’s next for me?’” she says.
“I would say when you get those GCSE results, no matter how you feel, you have options, so come and have a conversation with us about where you want to be – your next steps and how we can help you get there.
“We can help you to progress no matter your starting point. You will get there with support, encouragement and belief.”
Prior Pursglove College supports students who don’t get the grades they need to progress in the areas they want to with re-sits – something Angela herself has experienced.
“When I got my GCSE results, I went to Kirby College at the time and had to re-sit the year to get the results I wanted,” she says.
“I ended up being the first person in my family to go to University, so I would just say believe in what you can do.
“I didn’t think when I left school I would be sitting here as the acting head of a college – and now I am keen to help other students become independent learners.”
The college supports about 75% of its learners onto University and has excellent links with Russell Group and Oxbridge Universities.
However, it also offers more vocational courses and helps students into employment or apprenticeships too – and is keen to dispel the myth it is a traditional college which takes only the brightest students, owing to its heritage as a grammar school.
Courses include vocational qualifications in IT, Health and Social Care.
T levels are also available in Education and Early Years and – new this year – Digital Cyber Security.
“We’re not just about helping you move onto University – we look at apprenticeships and we offer courses like media, arts and photography,” Angela said.
“We offer BTECs in sport, applied science, business studies, engineering and early years education, as well as traditional A Levels and our new Electronics A Level.
“We offer an A Level in theatre studies and you can start with Level 2 and move up from there.
“We support learners with special educational and high needs too and we’re extremely committed to supporting our students’ mental health and wellbeing.”
Prior Pursglove College, which celebrates being an education provider for 465 years this month, is also proud of the enrichment programme it provides to students.
“We get students involved in projects in the local area, volunteering and tidying up beaches, or working with local care homes providing afternoon tea and bingo,” Angela says.
“These sorts of experiences allow students to develop their confidence and skills.
“We also support students to study for their driving theory tests and have other enrichment programmes like first aid and music, all of which help students to become career ready.
“Recently, we had over 200 Primary School children coming together at Prior Pursglove to form a choir with some of our music students.
“At the end of the project, they all sang together during a concert at the Stockton Globe, which definitely helped to increase their confidence.”
Prior Pursglove College also benefits from stunning scenery on a site that’s “like a mini university campus”.
“There is a sense of belonging and inclusion here too,” says Angela.
“We are a big family that will help you to get to where you want to be.
“When we asked our students to develop core values with us and they talked about how they felt they belonged, and used words like love, loyalty, helpful, acceptance and believing.
“Visitors are always impressed by the students, who know the expectations we have of them to ensure when they leave they are ready for the world of work or to go to university.”
The college is currently offering a number of Year 10 experience days, which will see 1,000 Year 10 students visit Prior Pursglove to get a taste of what college is about before the end of the academic year.
The college’s experience day for those who have just completed their GCSE exams takes place on June 29th and students can register to take part here.
Angela says the students are sure to find an empathetic ear from staff about this nerve-wracking time and reiterated her advice “not to worry” about GCSE results.
“Come and enjoy our experience day and then, when you get your results, come and talk to us whatever the numbers on the sheet of paper,” she says.
“Don’t think ‘that’s it, I can’t do what I want to do or go where I want to go’ if you don’t get the results you were hoping for.
“If you have the passion for what you want to do and you’re willing to engage and take ownership of the task in front of you, come and talk to us and we can help you determine where your strengths lie.
“At Prior Pursglove, we take the time to understand, what is your passion – what gives you that fire in your belly – and if we can do that, there’s always a way forward in education.”
- Prior Pursglove College is sponsoring the Zetland FM Summer Sound Music Festival at Guisborough Rugby Club on Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12. Staff from the college will have a stall at the event, advising festival-goers on educational opportunities in the sixth form and through its adult education offering.
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