Successful careers
Elizabeth Christian
Yvonne Brissett
Mark Field
Trudy Ing
Dr Stuart Prior
Linda White
Albert Phipps
Ian Webber
Gabrielle Holmes
Dr Erik Johansson Cox
Nneka Akudolu
Susan Nelson
Scott Ellis
Sue Long
Current degree students
Sarah Kate Bennett
Laurie Pycroft
Alexander Walker
Chris Healey
Belinda Robinson
Mark Williams
Laura Lacey
Nicola Power
Current Access to HE students
Laurie Pycroft
2010: Access to HE Diploma (Science), Swindon College
2011: Second year student, BA (Oxon) Physiological Sciences, University of Oxford
Having started a political campaign at the age of 16, I soon realised that this commitment wouldn't fit too well around studying for A levels. I was still keen to go to university though, so I started looking into other options. I found out about Access to HE as an alternative means of getting into university and decided to take the course, which was much more flexible.
I had some very helpful tutors who were understanding of any special arrangements I needed, and the time commitment for classes also meant I could fit learning in around my schedule far easier than with a traditional further education course.
The Access to HE course did a really good job of preparing me for university, particularly with regards to essay writing, as well as significantly improving my time management skills. While perhaps not all topics were covered in the same depth as A level, there was opportunity for me to delve deeper into areas which particularly interested me, giving me greater learning flexibility. I found the course to be a really effective way of achieving my goals - not only did I learn about my subject, but I also developed the study skills needed to progress and do well at university.
Having completed the Access to HE course, I was offered a place at the University of Oxford, where the university admissions team saw the value of the skills the course had given me. I am now in to the second year of my degree in Physiological Sciences and am hoping to go on to undertake research in neuroscience in the future.
I would recommend the Access to HE course highly - it enabled me to gain a place at a top university without having to compromise on my other commitments, and set me up with the skills and confidence to study at degree level.