Andrew started his A-level studies at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College in September 1997. He is studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, German and General Studies. His interests include karate and basketball.

Andrew Snape

The recent past

Andrew did his GCSEs at Holden Lane High School, Stoke-on-Trent, where he liked his Maths teacher showing him "there's more to Maths than just the basics". He belonged to their Maths Team and, along with all the other High Schools in the area, they visited his present College for a maths quiz about every 3 months which he enjoyed. Finding out he was good at Maths helped him to "generate self-confidence".

When deciding on his A-level subjects he tried to keep his "options open for University and I had a couple of career interviews" which helped him in making his final choices.

The present

He particularly likes studying Physics and Maths because "I like solving problems". Andrew is enjoying the different way of studying in a Sixth Form College. "Here you have free periods, where you can do your own thing. Having more control over your own time helps you to study better I feel."

Andrew is finding that "it's a big leap from GCSE level" in all his subjects but is enjoying the challenge. "Mechanics, which I'd never done at GCSE level, is interesting. There's a lot more problems to solve in Maths now which I enjoy a lot. German also is more difficult, more grammar and structure as well as vocabulary. But given time, I'll be all right with it too."

City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.

At the moment Andrew has had to give up playing basketball. "I was going to go for the basketball team but I had Maths when the training sessions were on. I spoke to the basketball coach and there was no way round it. I used to play for an outside team near where I live, every week. I was hoping to do that here but if Maths comes first, Maths comes first."

He does karate training 3 times a week and takes his black belt next year. "Karate gives me adrenalin" he says. Andrew also works "every Tuesday, in a fast food place. It just gives me a bit of cash, which helps me get by."

Looking to the future

Andrew is planning to go to University "to do something with Maths, Mechanics and Physics."

His brother, the first one in their family to go to University, is at Swansea University doing European Business Management with German. "I went down to visit Anthony in Swansea and stayed with him for a week, and that gave me a taste of what it would be like. Short of money all the time by the looks of it! I'm not going to let my studies suffer because of money. If I have to take out a loan, then I will do. I'll just have to be careful."

"I might stay around here at Keele or Staffs. At present I'm keeping my options open."

He is thinking of various career possibilities. "Probably I'd like to become a teacher more than anything. A Maths teacher I think, maybe Physics as well, at High School or possibly A-level. But if I can't become a teacher then I think I might join the RAF and become some sort of base operator. I would like to go to Europe sometime too, possibly tour it, or even work in German industry."