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Student became tutor to gain exam success

15/ 8/2008

CREATIVE Aimee Basson certainly came up with an imaginative way to revise for her exams — by pretending to be her own college tutor.

The graphics whizzkid rewrote her notes before reading them aloud to herself in her bedroom mirror.

And the inspired move paid off as she ripped open her results at Hyde Clarendon College to find she had scooped four As in graphics, business studies, English language and media studies.

The 18-year-old, of Cordova Avenue, Denton, said: “My parents must have wondered who i was chatting to, but it worked for me. I’m so pleased. I’m off to a foundation course in graphics at Manchester Metropolitan and then I’ll do my degree.”

• Animal-mad Ashley Dixon, 19, was soaring among the clouds after grabbing the grades she needed to secure a place at the Royal Veterinary College in London.  The teenager, of Sandy Hook, Stalybridge, already volunteers once a week at the Three Owls bird sanctuary in Rochdale and dreams of one day opening her own practice.

She scooped two As in biology and chemistry and two Bs in physics and English.  With a host of pets at home, including dogs, owls, rabbits and chickens, she is already well versed in comforting creatures.

She said: “If I qualify, I’d love to specialise in looking after birds eventually but now I just can’t wait to start my course.”

• Also flying high was budding legal eagle Hayley Evans, 17, who achieved the marks she needed to cement her place at Nottingham Trent university.

Hayley, who wants to be a solicitor, scored As in law, psychology and sociology and a B in English language.  The teenager, of Chadderton, had no hesitation in picking Hyde and has loved making a whole new batch of friends.

She said: “I wanted to move somewhere new after school. Now I’ll be off to Nottingham to start again down there. My Facebook account will be huge!”  It’s been a tough year. It doesn’t come easily to me, like some people. I’m one of those who has to work really hard at it. I basically had to put my life on hold for 10 weeks at exam time. But at least it’s paid off.”

Vice principal Liz Kendal was beaming after it emerged it was a record-breaking year for Hyde Clarendon.  An amazing 99.6 per cent passed their A-levels with three-quarters of students achieving A-C grades.

Mrs Kendal said: “The hard work and dedication of the staff must be recognised. And there is a culture of hard work among the students. The individual support and attention they receive helps them to flourish.”