Jessica Crosbie says her Bitesize message starts with a GCSE results sheet that felt brutal: three 6s, two 5s, three 4s and two failed GCSEs. She was disappointed, but those grades did not stop her reaching university and now a PhD in Criminology.
Jessica Crosbie and Bitesize
She said she had been hoping for a 7 in something, and the moment still stung. “I really struggled during my GCSEs, I had family and personal health issues going on at the time which meant I did not do as well as I was expecting.”
Even so, Crosbie said she could see the line she still had to clear. “At the time, I was really hoping for a 7 in something, but I was satisfied that I had at least passed maths and English and got the grades I needed for sixth form.”
That combination mattered because it kept her next step open. She had a tutor for maths for a while, and she said the support, along with her own effort, helped her get through the point where results day could have shut things down.
GCSEs, sixth form and A levels
“When I received those results, I remember having to remind myself I had at least got what I needed for my next steps.” Crosbie said that disappointment pushed her to change course, work harder for her A levels and keep university in sight.
After school, she went to university, completed an undergraduate degree in Criminology and then a postgraduate degree in Crime, Justice, and Psychology. She also spent 3 years volunteering in the magistrates’ court supporting witnesses and 1 year working on a victim’s helpline.
Crosbie said she took the initiative to get volunteering experience within her university and then with the Witness Service, and those roles shaped the work she does now. “These things have led me to where I am today as I am currently pursuing my PhD which looks at both topics.”
Jessica Crosbie in Year 9
She said she knew in Year 9 that she wanted to pursue a PhD, and she is now a researcher, co-leader of a network for postgraduate researchers, a student union adviser and a content creator online. She also said this was the first time she had been asked what her GCSE results were since she applied for university.
For students opening their own results, the practical lesson is plain: a disappointing sheet can still leave room for the next move if it contains the grades needed for sixth form, and if it does not, Crosbie’s route shows there are other ways to build toward A levels, university and postgraduate study. “There are always ways to achieve your goals and dreams - you just have to get creative or take a longer of a journey to get there.”
