LAST year Marianne Potter's lack of confidence left her with just a handful of GCSEs graded E to G.

But 12 months on and time in the post-16 centre at Lees Brook Community Sports College have turned things around.

Marianne did a health and social care BTEC course at the centre, which is geared towards academic underachievers.

Yesterday, she found she had gained a merit – equivalent to four GCSEs.

The 17-year-old said: "When I was at school, I had no confidence and that affected my grades badly.

"Then once I'd finished school, I found out about the skills academy and since I started coming here, I've really grown in confidence."

Marianne is now planning to attend the post-16 centre for a second year, to study for a TEC in retail.

She then plans to pursue a career as a teaching assistant.

Assistant principal Joe McColgan said Marianne's success was a fine example of how the skills centre aimed to help students to build their vocational and social skills.