Access Results 2009
Mature Students Gain Access to University Thanks to Adult Qualifications at LMC
Students completing Access courses at Lancaster & Morecambe College are celebrating today (Friday 31/07/09) as they collect the results that will allow them to go on to university!
Helen Anderson
Successful students celebrating their results included Helen Anderson who studied Psychology and Sociology and will now go on to study Social Work at Lancaster University.
Pictured here with her daughter, Abigail, 2 1/2, Helen says she chose to return to study to get into a better career. ‘I was cleaning before I had Abigail,’ she says, ‘and wanted to do something that made a difference.
In three years time when I finish my degree I’ll be able to give her more than I can now.’
Carl Peters
Carl Peters is also celebrating his success having completed his English Level 2 and 3, Sociology and GCSE equivalent Maths in just a single year. Carl made the positive choice to return to study after giving up work in Norfolk to return to Lancaster. He will start a degree in English Language and Literature with Creative Writing in September at the University of Cumbria. ‘As you can tell,’ he says grinning, ‘I am really looking forward to it!’
‘I’ve always been interested in English, and have helped out mates in the past with letter writing and forms. I’ve always worked, but had been thinking about further education for a while. I tell my son that if he works hard at school and gets his qualifications first time round, he’ll be able to pick and choose what he wants to do, and not have to come back when he’s my age!’
‘My dream job would be to write for heavy metal magazines, but I’d love to work in a library or bookshop, or even write stories for a living.’
Sonya Dryden
History is the passion of Sonya Dryden, who, having completed studies in English, History and Maths, will start her History Degree at Lancaster University in October. ‘I’d love to get into journalism, archeology, research or be an archivist.’ she says. ‘Before coming to college I was working part time jobs around my three children, but as I got older I realised I didn’t want to work in pubs and shops for ever – this way I can offer something better to my children when they’re older.’
‘I was in college three days per week, most days we’d be finished by three thirty and my childcare was paid for by college, so it’s good for parents and gives you some independence away from home and the children. I would say to anyone thinking about studying at college – Do it now before another year goes by!’
Stuart Baddeley, Jeremy Lee and Matthew Johnston
Stuart Baddeley (25), Jeremy Lee (23) and Matthew Johnston (28) will all be heading off to university too, Stuart to study Computer Science at Lancaster University, Matthew to study Psychology at Lancaster University and Jeremy to study Clinical Psychology at Bangor or Oxford! Jeremy says, ‘I have a definite place at Bangor University, but I have completed a phone interview for Oxford and now need to sit a formal interview and pass a Cambridge Assessment before I find out for definite whether I’ve secured a place at Oxford. If I have I will start next year.’ He goes on to say, ’being at college makes you realise what you can do. I was working as a scaffolder and in garages before I came here, and to come to academia and realise that you are competent is really motivating.’
Stuart Baddeley says ‘I managed a bar in Manchester, then moved back to Lancaster and set up my own company as a Domestic Energy Assessor, after three years working alone, I decided to move on and return to education. Once I have completed my degree I plan to write software that can be sold into businesses, or design embedded systems.’
Emma Brooksbank, Rachel Potter and Katy Armer
Emma Brooksbank, Rachel Potter and Katy Armer will all be starting new careers in nursing after completing their studies at LMC. Emma will study Mental Health Nursing and Katy will study Adult Nursing, both at the University of Cumbria while Rachel will focus on Children’s Nursing at Edge Hill University.
‘I’m interested in the progress that has been made in Mental Health Nursing and the new therapies and approaches that have been introduced,’ says Emma. ‘I have moved my whole family up from Devon so I can study at the University of Cumbria as it has such a fantastic reputation for Mental Health Nursing. I have been fortunate that Lancaster & Morecambe College is considered the best for Access courses too!’
‘I left school at 14 after a maths teacher stopped half way through an explanation and said there was no point going over it as I would just end up working in a sausage factory! I was dreading studying maths again, but I had his words in my head and was determined to prove him wrong! When I actually started the classes I was amazed that I could learn so quickly as things were explained in terms that I understood. I would love to find him and say look at me now!’
Rachel Potter was on maternity leave but decided not to return to work and enrolled at college instead. She has been interested in nursing since her brother was involved in a car accident when he was young and spent a long time in Preston Hospital. She says, ‘I’m not going to say it’s been easy fitting in college and looking after my daughter, but once I’d sorted out childcare it wasn’t as hard as I expected. Because the courses are for adults, most people are in the same boat and understand what you are dealing with, so you get lots of support.’
‘I was dreading maths too, but when you asked about things they were explained and not just rushed through, so once you start understanding it you get more confident and know you can do it.’
Katy Armer left school at 17 to have her son, and was working in a pool hall before coming to starting her Access course. ‘I realised I couldn’t work there all my life and my son goes to school this year so I decided to come back and get some qualifications.’
‘It has been a bit of a struggle, but it’s worth it because I know it’s what I want to do. I had thought about college for about 3 years, and I’m really glad I finally did it because I’ve done better than I ever expected. I’ve gone from working in a job I didn’t really enjoy any more, where people didn’t really understand my situation, to getting loads of support and making some of the best friends I’ve ever had.’
‘If people are thinking about further education I would say just go for it. Bite the bullet and get it done! You might think it’s a year of your life, but it goes by so quickly and you get such a lot out of it.’
The Access Diploma, specifically designed for adults to improve the grades they got at school or to study a new subject, can lead to university level study, progression in employment or help candidates to meet entry criteria for future job applications.
Subjects can be studied individually or combined into a full time programme. If you are aged 19-24 and working towards your first full level 3 (A-Level equivalent) qualification you could be entitled to study for FREE! Please call 0800 306 306 or download your copy of the Access brochure and to check eligibility criteria.
