GCSE Results Day marks an exciting milestone for thousands of 16-year-olds across the country. For many, it’s the end of school and the beginning of a new chapter—whether that’s moving on to college, staying in sixth form, or starting an apprenticeship.

We caught up with one of our apprentices, Leo, who, this time last year, was collecting his GCSE results. Leo shared why he chose the apprenticeship route and how it’s shaped his journey so far.

“When I left school, unfortunately I didn’t get the grades I was hoping for and had failed my English. At the time, it felt like a setback, and I wasn’t sure what direction to take next. Sixth form or college didn’t feel like the right path for me—I’ve always found that I learn better by doing, not just sitting in a classroom, its safe to say school life wasn’t the most enjoyable for me. That’s when I started looking into apprenticeships.

After a lot of searching into what my options were I decided that an apprenticeship would suit me best.

What appealed to me most was the hands-on experience. I wanted to learn real skills in a real working environment, not just read about them in a textbook. An apprenticeship would give me the chance to do exactly that—earn while I learn, work alongside experienced professionals, and build confidence in my abilities.

It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’m gaining practical knowledge every day and I can see a clearer path for my future. As part of this apprenticeship I have also been able to resit my English qualification for should I need it further down the line for my career.

Just because school didn’t work out the way I planned doesn’t mean success is off the table. For me, the apprenticeship route has opened doors I never thought possible.

Im looking forward to working towards my End Point Assessment and securing a Distinction (fingers crossed).”

Wishing Leo the very best of luck as he approaches the end of his apprenticeship. We’re excited to see all that he achieves next and can’t wait to watch his career journey unfold!