Jade Taylor

Former The Lakes School student Jade enrolled at Lancaster & Morecambe College in September 2025 to study the Access to HE Diploma, and took the Health & Social Care route. Driven by a clear goal to progress to higher education, Jade chose LMC as the stepping stone toward a degree in Occupational Therapy. Currently, Jade works as a Supply Teaching Assistant at a local special school, delivering dedicated care and educational support to children aged 3–19 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The best part of the Access to HE course for me was meeting other adult learners who shared the same goals and drive to progress to university, and having that shared experience made a huge difference.

As well as the supportive community offered by the College, the Access course also equipped Jade with essential academic and professional qualities including how to referencing correctly, time management and strong organisational skills. Since finishing at LMC, Jade's biggest accomplishment has been securing a place at the University of Cumbria to study Occupational Therapy. At the Access Celebration Awards on competing the Access course  Jade was presented with the prestigious Student of the Year Award in recognition of an outstanding academic journey and exceptional dedication to her studying.

My experiences on the Access course at LMC gave my confidence a huge boost, and beyond the subject knowledge, the course helped me master presenting to groups, improved my interview skills, and guided me through the entire UCAS application process.

When asked what advice Jade would offer to prospective students considering the Access route, her advice was:

"Be prepared for the workload and for managing the course alongside your work and family commitments. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! I found the course incredibly beneficial for progressing to university and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do the same."