London’s BSix college helped me gain qualifications and integrate into British society

‘The staff really supported me until I was confident enough to read, write, listen to and speak English.’ Photograph: Alamy

I feel saddened by the news about BSix college in Hackney, east London, losing its A-levels (Staff and students fight loss of A-levels at London college helping disadvantaged learners, 10 June). I am for ever grateful to have been a student at BSix. I came in the UK as an unaccompanied minor aged 16 and English isn’t my first language. I didn’t understand a word of it. A friend of mine helped me get into BSix to learn English in January 2007 – the course was called English as a second language (Esol) then.

The staff really supported me until I was confident enough to read, write, listen to and speak English. After a year, I was given the opportunity to do my BTec first diploma in sciences, equivalent to GCSEs, and GCSE English and maths.