DCG Success Stories

He gained the GCSE grades he needed to apply for a place at a flying school of his choice and train as a commercial airline pilot.  

He said: “It’s amazing and comforting. Flying is something I’ve wanted to do for the past few years but I didn’t think the opportunity would come along so soon.”  

Raised and educated in Macau, China then in the Philippines for around three years, Bhryel John joined DCG’s GCSE plus programme quite late – just one month after arriving in Derby with his family in October 2022.  

In 2023 he attained three GCSEs including English Language and this year achieved a further three GCSEs at level 5 and above in Business and Combined Science. 

But going to college has been about so much more than passing exams for Bhryel John.  

As well as being the vice president of the Student Union, he was curriculum lead ambassador and a Media Literacy Ambassador for DCG. 

Last year he presented at Guardian Foundation events in London, Birmingham and Manchester and led a UNESCO webinar in Oman on mis- and disinformation.  

He added: “Taking GCSE Plus at Joseph Wright Centre got me my grades but it also led to extracurricular activities like the Guardian Foundation events.  

“I was so lucky. As someone new to the UK, that gave me the chance to see different parts of the country.  

“I was also co-founder and main lead of Culture Week, the first event of its kind to be held at Derby College.  

“And, because there was such an emphasis on enrichment and collaboration, everyone on the GCSE Plus course got to know each other well.” 

Bhryel John had thought that studying in a different country might be a big cultural change. However, the warm welcome he received from staff and DCG students who had grown up in the UK, helped him settle in quickly and easily.