Somerset College

Best friends Dani Cline, 18, and Jess Rickard, 19, found themselves well matched when they each gained top marks with three distinctions at Somerset College in Taunton.

The pair have just gained the National Diploma in Child Care, Learning and Development (equivalent to three A levels) and both achieved top A Grades all the way.

Jess also recently won an award as Work Placement Student of the Year at Musgrove Park Hospital, while Dani won Best Student of the Year in Somerset College’s Social and Professional department.  

“We’re so happy. We’re high aimers and we both like to get involved. The course has been perfect for us,” said Jess.

Now their studies will continue on separate paths.  Jess plans to go to Reading University to do Psychology, Health and Mental Studies, first spending a gap year working with special needs children and as a volunteer at a school in India. Dani will go on to Ruskin University in Essex, to train as a primary school teacher.

“I’ve wanted to teach since I was in secondary school,” said Dani. “This route has given us valuable practical experience and really helped us prepare, and there was no problem getting to university.” 

Caption: High fliers – Somerset College students Dani Cline, left, and Jess Rickard, both gained triple distinctions.