When Kaseigh McKenzie arrived at Reaseheath College and University Centre, she hadn’t been in education properly since Year 7 or 8 and had no GCSEs.
A year later, she is celebrating completing her Foundation Level 1 Equine course with Distinctions across the board, a remarkable Grade 7 in GCSE English and a place on a Level 3 Extended Business course.
For Kaseigh, the results were far beyond what she had expected.
“I was happy with a four,” she said. “I came out with a seven, I was six marks away from an eight. I was really happy with it.”
Her results-day reaction was just as memorable. Having had to come into college to collect her results in person, Kaseigh was initially told she hadn’t achieved the four she had expected.
“My face just dropped. Then they said said, ‘You’ve got a seven.’ It was amazing. Neil cried, my mum cried – it was really emotional.”
Kaseigh’s route back into education had not been straightforward. She had been seriously unwell and had spent years away from education before deciding to give college a try.
Coming to Reaseheath meant starting again, but the Foundation Level 1 Equine course gave her a familiar environment. Having worked with horses for around 10 years, choosing equine felt like a natural first step.
“I just thought I could go to my local yard and get my work experience done there. It was welcoming and there was something familiar.”
The course also helped Kaseigh realise that her future might lie somewhere different.
“I’ve realised that sometimes jobs and hobbies should be kept separate. It hasn’t made me lose my love for horses, but it made me appreciate how different the industry and the hobby are.”
Alongside her vocational studies, Kaseigh worked towards her GCSE English – something she had never previously achieved.
She credits Dr Neil Cliffe, who teaches English at Reaseheath, with making a huge difference to her confidence and ultimately her result.
“I enjoyed English anyway, but Neil made it a lot easier. He takes the time to learn about every single student individually and it made the world of difference.”
When Kaseigh had missed lessons because of illness, Dr Cliffe even used his lunch break to give her one-to-one support.
“I couldn’t have done it without Neil. Everyone around me helped, but he really made the difference in my English.”
For Kaseigh, that support is what sets Reaseheath apart.
“You don’t always see teachers who actually really care about their students. They can see it as a job, but even when students are annoying or push them away, the teachers here still show up and still care. That’s super important.”
Kaseigh is now moving to a college nearer to home in Stoke and had originally expected to progress onto a Level 1 Business course believing she had achieved the basic passes she needed. Instead, after her interview, she was offered a place on a Level 3 Extended Business course.
It is a huge leap from where she started just a year ago and one Kaseigh is still getting used to.
“It’s completely new to me. I’ve literally just gone from basically doing nothing to coming in here and passing, and now I’m passing amazingly.”
She hasn’t decided exactly where business will take her yet, but she is ready to find out. Her advice to anyone who feels they have fallen behind in education is simple.
“Just keep trying. At first, you get this mental block, but there are people around you who care. Do it for them, but most importantly, do it for yourself. You’ll go far.”
For Kaseigh, that second chance has already opened a very different future.
