After facing a challenging time at secondary school and an isolated experience during home education, Gabriel found a renewed sense of purpose and belonging at Calderdale College through the Early College Transfer (ECT) programme.

“I didn’t enjoy school. The environment felt strict and unsupportive,” Gabriel explained. “When I switched to home-schooling, I appreciated the freedom, but I quickly got bored and lonely. I was motivated in subjects like maths, but teaching myself everything without interaction or feedback was really hard.”

Recognising that a balance was needed – between the freedom of independent study and the structured support of a classroom – Gabriel and his parents explored new options. That’s when they discovered the ECT programme at Calderdale College.

“Walking into college for the first time, I was struck by how big and open it was. It felt like a real step towards university, which is something I’ve always wanted,” he said. “The teachers spoke to you like adults, not like kids. There was mutual respect, and that made a huge difference.”

Gabriel thrived in the environment, finding the independence he craved, alongside guidance from staff who were passionate about their subjects. “I studied Business and really enjoyed it. The teachers genuinely taught the material well and helped me understand it properly.”

Freedom outside the classroom was also a big plus. “You could go out to lunch, grab something from town, or just go for a walk in People’s Park. It gave me a sense of trust and responsibility.”

Reflecting on his time in the ECT programme, Gabriel says: “It was a major turning point. I was finally in an environment where people respected me, where I could learn and feel motivated again. Calderdale College helped me feel like I was on track towards my future.”

When asked to sum up his experience at the college in just a few words, he chose “motivating, respectful, and inclusive.” The environment gave him a renewed sense of purpose, offered the academic challenge he had missed during home education, and provided the respect and autonomy he had longed for in earlier school settings. Teachers treated him like an adult, encouraging mutual respect and independence, while the freedom to manage his own time helped him grow both academically and personally.

Gabriel is now approaching the end of his T Level course in Digital, where he has undertaken placements at Lloyds Banking Group and is hoping to progress onto an apprenticeship, and ultimately a Master’s degree.