> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Maths and English GCSE passes rise at Suffolk New College - URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/maths-and-english-gcse-passes-rise-at-suffolk-new-college/ - Published: 2026-08-20T12:14:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-20T13:14:46.000Z - Description: A total of 502 Suffolk New College learners achieved a grade 4 or above in maths or English this year, with maths passes up 13.7% on 2025. - Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams - Tags: News, Further Education, Secondary Education, Suffolk New College **Why it matters:** The rise means more students and adult learners across Suffolk New College's campuses in Ipswich, Otley, Halesworth and Leiston have hit the benchmark grade needed for progression into further study, training or employment. **The details:** Of the 502 learners, 228 gained a maths GCSE at grade 4 or above, a 13.7% increase on 2025\. A further 274 achieved a grade 4 or above pass in English. The college said the majority of those involved were young people retaking the exams and students on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programmes. Adult learners also featured strongly among this year's successes, with 20% more gaining a grade 4 or above pass in English compared with 2025. Among the individual successes was Nasser Hamid, 20, an ESOL student who fled war-torn Sudan in 2023 and settled in Ipswich. Supported by Suffolk New College and Suffolk Refugee Support, he has his sights set on becoming a professional football referee and recently officiated a charity match at Portman Road. He gained grade 4 passes in both English and maths. [Sudan refugee passes GCSEs and dreams of the World CupThree years after fleeing war-torn Sudan for Ipswich, Nasser Hamid has passed his GCSEs, officiated a charity match at Portman Road, and is now eyeing a future in engineering – and, one day, the World Cup.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/icon/ipswich-icon-ab68cc3d-bb02-4444-a78b-4307c2b5f739.png)Ipswich.co.ukOliver Rouane-Williams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/thumbnail/2---Nasser-Hamid---20-from-Ipswich-got-a-grade-4-in-GCSE-maths---after-securing-a-GCSE-in-English-in-November---he-has-dreams-of-becoming-a-big-time-referee-1-b12f0df7-1ce1-403f-b870-781688914aef.JPG)](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sudan-refugee-passes-gcses-and-dreams-of-the-world-cup/) **What they're saying:** Marianne Flack, Deputy Principal of Suffolk New College, said: "The numbers are going up in terms of passes, we have had some fantastic individual achievements so a big congratulations to our students and staff for all of their hard work." **What's next:** Suffolk New College is hosting two festival-style enrolment events at its Rope Walk campus in Ipswich today and tomorrow, between 08:00 and 20:00\. Further details are available at [www.suffolk.ac.uk](http://www.suffolk.ac.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) or by calling 01473 382200. **The bottom line:** Suffolk New College is reporting rising GCSE pass rates in maths and English this year, with particular gains among adult learners and those retaking exams, as the college opens its doors for enrolment this week. [Learn more about Suffolk New College](https://www.suffolk.ac.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£21 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.