Graduation to celebrate Access students’ success

Rachid Khamlichi, Gemma Chappell Sally Kent (Access Coordinator and Tutor); Stuart Downes, Joanne Wadley, Gemma Thompson, Emma Milam, Laura Healey, Kirsty Cook, Aminatu Crisp, Gemma Rooke, Victoria Chappell, Sophie Pinnegar and Alice Keable SUS-150308-123947001

Many of this year’s students are now moving on to degree courses having achieved the qualification. The event follows hot on the heels of former student Andrew Cole’s success at the Laser Access Awards, where he received his prize as runner up in the “Outstanding Academic Achievement Access” category.

Access courses provide the necessary qualifications for entry to university degrees, and the college offers courses in: Nursing and Healthcare Professions (including midwifery) and Health and Social Care Professions.

Collyer’s Access Coordinator and Tutor Sally Kent was thrilled: “I’m extremely proud of these students. They have demonstrated significant ability coupled with hard work and I’m confident that they will all be a credit to a degree programme.”

Andrew Cole completed his Access Diploma in Health and Social Services at Collyer’s last summer, and has just finished his first year at Surrey University, where he is studying Operating Department Practice.

Sally Kent said: “Andrew’s commitment to study and determination to get a Distinction grade was constant during his time with us; he not only set a good example to the group, he has also helped fellow learners to have high aspirations. Amazingly, Andrew achieved all of this success while holding down a full-time job and travelling up from the south coast twice a week!”

Andrew said: “Uni’ is going really well and the study skills I learned at Collyer’s have been invaluable. Thanks to all on the Access team, I am very proud to have been a student at Collyer’s.”

Sally Kent added: “Andrew gave a very touching speech at the Laser Awards ceremony, thanking everyone at Collyer’s for everything they had done and how well the course had prepared him for university. He added that studying the course had changed his life and could change other people’s lives. This was very well received by the conference delegates!”

Vice Principal Steve Nicholls said: “Congratulations to Andrew for his success at the Laser Awards, and to all of the Access students who have graduated at Collyer’s this year. I know they are a talented group, but these are still very tough courses to pass and they have all done incredibly well. Their families and friends, who attended the graduation event, are quite rightly extremely proud. And so are we!”

Report and pictures contributed by Collyer’s.