Meet our students

Previous School: Manshead School, Dunstable

Once I’d finished my GCSEs I knew I wanted to go to college rather than stay on at school because I enjoy more practical based learning. Shuttleworth College has a really good reputation so we came to visit at an Open Day. The Agriculture tutor, Anne-Marie, was really nice; I had an interview and enrolled on to the course.

I hadn’t studied Agriculture before but I really enjoy it. My favourite part is the livestock because it’s very rewarding and I enjoy the challenges it brings – looking after the sheep and cattle, and of course the lambing season! The facilities at Kingshill Farm are brilliant and there is a separate mechanisation yard with all the tractors and farming equipment. I’ve just joined the onsite gym and the library is good too. I live in Dunstable, which isn’t a problem because the college run bus service covers the area.

I’m looking forward to a work experience placement this September at a farm during the harvesting season.

You are treated like an adult at College and I get on really well with the tutors – they are always there if you have any problems or questions. In fact, when I started at Shuttleworth I didn’t want to go to university, but my tutor Anne-Marie has inspired me to learn more. I’d now love to go on to Harper Adams University when I finish here and hopefully pursue a career in farming. I’d recommend the course to others as it really helps you grow as a person.   

Find out more about Agriculture Level 3

Ciaran chose to study at Bedford College after finishing school because of the fantastic Deaf awareness and plentiful support available to Deaf students. His journey through College and experiences along the way have really helped to boost his confidence and two years ago, aged 21, Ciaran fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming a contestant on Countdown.

Having always loved to act, Ciaran enrolled on to the Intermediate Level Performing Arts study programme at College, before moving on to the Advanced Level. “Performing Arts gave me lots of confidence and the teachers were very supportive,” said Ciaran. Studying acting helped with Ciaran’s confidence and communication skills, but also made him realise that anything is possible if you want to achieve it. “You’ve got nothing to lose,” explained Ciaran. “You come to realise that you can do it, and you might really like it.”

Supported all the way by the Deaf Support team, Ciaran continued his journey at College to study Media Production before leaving to pursue another interest and become an apprentice tennis coach. “I used to play tennis when I was younger but started playing more seriously at about 19,” said Ciaran. “I love teaching children, adults and people with a disability and really enjoy seeing them improve their capabilities.”  “My aim is to become a qualified tennis coach and to represent the Great Britain Deaf Tennis team.”

 “I enjoyed my time here and would recommend the College to other students. The facilities are excellent and there is great support for post-16 students.”

Find out more about Performing Arts

Previous School: Smithdon High School, Norfolk

I chose to study sport because I am a keen table tennis player. I have played for nine years and represent Great Britain at competitions all over the world; I’m now working my way towards the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics! My family moved down to the area from Norfolk in order to be based nearer to my coach and we found that Bedford College had the best facilities for wheelchair users. I’d definitely recommend the college to other disabled people.

The tutors really want the best for each of their students. They adapt everything for my needs, for example, if they give a presentation they’ll print out the PowerPoint slides so I don’t have to write as many notes. The sports hall on campus is great and we also have use of the grounds at Kempston Rovers Football Club.

In the first year of the course we focused on team sports where I partook in volleyball, while next year we will be focusing on individual sports.  I like being able to relate the theory we learn in lessons to my own sport, such as anatomy, physiology and fitness training. I’d eventually like to pursue a career in sports coaching, or fitness training and testing, which I find really interesting.

Outside of my course I have been asked to help run a disability sports club at the University of Bedfordshire which is also open to College students. 

Find out more about Sport Level 3

My journey at Bedford College started five years ago when I studied an entry level English Language course.  I’ve now progressed through three levels of Travel & Tourism and I’d like to go even further and study at Level 4 and Level 5.   

I chose Travel & Tourism because I had always wanted to work as a member of cabin crew.  I love the idea of working on long haul flights and having the opportunity to visit different counties across the world, meeting new people from different backgrounds. In fact, I’ve already completed my cabin crew certificate, which was part of my course last year.

I’ve found the lessons very interesting and I’ve really enjoyed the course trips. We went to Edinburgh this year to analyse how the city organises its key tourist attractions.  We visited the zoo, took a city bus tour and a night walking tour.  For each attraction we had to fill out a questionnaire, take photographs and critically look at the organisation and their marketing.  For example, Edinburgh Zoo promotes itself as the only zoo in the UK to keep pandas, which helps attract visitors from England, Ireland and Wales, not just Scotland.

The College also arranged some work experience for me at the Park Inn by Radisson Bedford Hotel.  I was there for two weeks and worked on reception, behind the bar and in the restaurant.  They offered me a job at the end of the two weeks, but I’ve decided to focus on my higher education studies instead.

Find out more about Travel & Tourism Level 3

After I left school I worked for a few years in retail management as a supervisor but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do long term.  I’d always enjoyed being creative and making videos, and I heard that Bedford College had a good reputation for media so I went to an open day to find out more.

I started with the Level 2 course and then I moved up to Level 3, which I’ve now completed.  It’s been very interesting - I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve also been given the freedom to incorporate my own ideas into the coursework.  So, for example, we recently had to make a factual documentary and we were able to choose our own topic.  I decided to produce a personal piece that dealt with my dad’s brain injury.  I had to undertake the planning, research, conduct risk assessments, prepare interviews, do all the filming and use one of the edit suites at the College to produce the final edit.

Some of the practical skills that I have learnt will be invaluable for my next steps, from understanding camera placement and the different shot types, to reviewing lighting effects and preparing an industry standard script. On the editing side we’ve also been taught to use two industry standard programmes: Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro.  The College provided us with a wide range of equipment such as digital SLRs and video cameras.  They also have a TV studio complete with lighting rig system, green screen and microphones.

My tutors have been brilliant.  They’ve helped me to look at my future in a different way.  I was against going on to university until recently when my tutors helped me to realise the career benefits of higher education.  I’ve now got an unconditional offer at the University of Lincoln to study Media Production BA (Hons), which is one of the best media courses in the country.

Find out more about Media Production Level 3

Previous School: In Australia

I lived in Australia for 10 years before coming back to the UK last year. I absolutely love cooking and have a particular passion for pastry and cake decoration. I learnt a lot of what I know from my step mum by helping out at her café when we lived in Australia. My dad had studied plumbing at Bedford College when he was younger, so when we came back to the UK I decided to enrol on the Professional Cookery course.

My tutors are really nice and will always help you out if you are having difficulty with something. The course has helped me decide that I want to pursue a career in baking, so I am taking a part-time pastry course alongside the full-time cookery course. I also want to complete the part-time Cake Decoration course before leaving College with the aim of eventually owning my own café or bakery.

Alongside the cooking, we spend some time serving in 25 Restaurant, the College’s on site training restaurant which is open to the public. We also get practical experience in the College’s student restaurant, Munch & Mocha. On a Tuesday morning we work alongside the head chef to help prepare lunch for that day, including any soups, sauces and pasta bakes.

Lessons at College are a lot more fun than at school. It’s also a more independent environment – you want to be there to learn and to work towards your own goals.

Find out more about Professional Cookery Level 2

I have a part-time job in a florist and I really enjoy making people happy by doing something that makes me happy.  I love seeing people’s reactions when they come to pick up one of the displays that I’ve designed – it’s the best bit! 

One of the people I work with had already completed a floristry course at Shuttleworth and she highly recommended it.  Although I live in Hertfordshire, it hasn’t been a problem getting there as I catch the College bus which stops in Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock. 

Learning all the different floral arranging techniques has been very interesting.  For example in the wedding unit we did a lot of delicate wire work and learnt how to use parafilm floral tape effectively.  Having timed assessments has also been really valuable as they give you an idea of what it’s like to work under pressure.

We have a ‘Floristry Shop’ at the College, which is a big, walk-in, cold room which helps to keep the flowers alive for longer.  The local wholesaler delivers weekly, first thing on a Monday morning, and we can make suggestions about colour themes and the types of flowers we would like on a Friday, when our tutor places the order.

I’m so pleased that I decided to do the course and I’m definitely a better florist now.  I’ve been offered more work from the shop so I’m now working four days a week.  Eventually I’d like to do a Level 3 course and I’d definitely consider doing it at Shuttleworth.

Find out more about Floristry Level 2

Previous school: Harlington Upper School

I started thinking about joining the armed forces or emergency services when I was still at school. My granddad had worked as an engineer during World War Two and, as a big influence in my life, I knew I wanted to do something similar. I then started to think of all the benefits: being able to push myself in order to help others, and to travel the world!

When it came to looking at further education options, the Public Services study programme at Bedford College covered all areas of the sector. Still wanting to keep my options open at this point, it seemed a good place to start.

Coming to College made the whole process real. We went on expeditions to the Peak District and to Wales, had guest speakers come in and trips to RAF bases. It was one trip in particular to RAF Brize Norton that convinced me that the RAF was the path for me. Without all these brilliant experiences I really don’t think I could have made my decision. In the last year of the study programme, I successfully applied for a role as an RAF police officer.

My tutors offered advice through the whole application process, and knowing that each of them have served in the RAF, the Army or the Marines is invaluable. They do all they can to help you and give you the skills you need for your future career. My confidence has grown so much over the two years here and I can’t wait for what the future holds. 

Find out more about Public Services Level 3

I’ve always had an interest in Graphics, it was one of the subjects that I really enjoyed at school and I’d had a lot of good feedback from family and friends about the Graphic Design course at Bedford College. 

I’ve really enjoyed learning a wide range of new skills.  When you start the course, you don’t need any graphic design skills, the tutors teach you everything you need to know.  I always felt comfortable asking for help if I needed to go over something again. I’ve now become an expert in using important design software such as Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator.  We’ve got all the facilities we need here, Mac computers and some photography equipment, again you don’t need to know how to use these before you start College as they teach you everything here.

I really enjoyed working on my final project.  The theme was ‘connect’ and we had to work on our own to think of a product, produce a brief, and come up with concepts and final designs.  I chose to interpret ‘connect’ as a dating website and I designed all the different web pages and related promotions such as billboards.

I’ve found that I’ve become a much more independent thinker and worker since I’ve been at Bedford College which is great and will definitely help me when I move into the workplace.  

Find out more about Art & Design (Graphic Design) Level 3

Hummera joined the Foundation Skills Programme at Bedford College after finishing school. The programme supported Hummera, who is Deaf and uses British Sign Language  (BSL) as her first language, to improve important life skills including English, maths and money management. Hummera’s ultimate aim following College was to get a job, but her time here also helped her discover her true passion.

Hummera gained qualifications in Hair & Beauty and Cookery, as part of the Foundation programme. At the end of the programme she moved on to a traineeship with Bedford Citizens Housing Association in the hair salon of Bedford Charter House, a residential care home in the centre of town.

The Additional Support team at Bedford College, who would accompany Hummera to lessons as her interpreter, helped her find suitable vacancies, write her CV and prepare for the application process with practice interviews.  After a very successful placement Hummera was offered a full-time position at Charter House and has now been there for four years.

“I love washing hair, putting in rollers, drying and doing nails too. I also help with men’s hair, just washing at the minute but I am learning how to cut. Even sweeping the floors and making tea and coffee, I love it all. We have a laugh and I enjoy working here.”

Hummera enjoyed making friends with both hearing and deaf students while at College and her one-to-one sessions with tutors helped her to focus on her end goals. 

Find out more about Foundation Skills

My granddad was a Painter and Decorator. When he passed away, I decided I wanted to follow in his footsteps and see whether it was a trade that I enjoyed. 

I didn’t know anything about painting and decorating when I started the course, but as I progressed from Level 1 to Level 2 I’ve learnt more and more. I like all the practical skills such as preparing surfaces for decoration, rubbing down the doors and skirting boards before painting, learning how to apply paint using different tools such as brushes and spray equipment, plus paper hanging techniques for papering walls and ceilings.

The painting and decorating facilities at the College were good and they have lots of resources. If we were learning how to paper walls, and we made a mistake and needed to reapply certain sections, there was always enough paper to go around. The tutors were great at helping you if you got things wrong or didn’t understand something.  They’d take the time to show you how to do it the correct way. Plus, they have worked in industry, so they really know what skills are important to get a good job.

Find out more about Painting & Decorating Level 2

Jake is now a Junior Quantity Surveyor at Innovation On-Site

I’m involved in pricing carpentry and timber frame works for clients.  Once we start the job, I evaluate progress, send out valuations and invoice every two or four weeks. I create cost analysis spreadsheets to monitor each job which allows us to forecast the profit margin.  At the end of every month I also have the responsibility of chasing any overdue payments. I’m mainly based in the office but I try to get out on site as often as I can and it’s great to be able to see a job through from start to finish.  My employer is also paying for me to study the BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Construction Commercial Management degree at Nottingham Trent University part-time.

When I had started the Construction Level 3 course at Bedford College, I knew I wanted a career in the construction industry but I didn’t know exactly what role. I spent the first year learning about all the different roles and I was given the opportunity to go on site and see for myself what was involved.  I did some work experience with Bowmer & Kirkland at Center Parcs Woburn Forest site, shadowing the quantity surveying team, and this is when I found what I wanted to do. 

There is no doubt that this course gave me a good general grasp of the different areas of construction and it was invaluable for making contacts in the industry.  I got this job at Innovation On-Site after an employer event that the College organised.  I was able to meet staff from the company face-to-face, hand over my CV and then they invited me to an interview which went successfully and they decided to offer me the position.

Find out more about Construction Level 3

After my GCSEs I considered A-Levels but I knew I wanted to specialise in music, so this course at Bedford College was perfect for me.  I’d had my first drum lesson when I was five years old and I also play the guitar, bass and piano.  I’m a gigging musician and a session musician – so music is pretty much my whole life!

This course is great for people who are self-motivated, ready to work hard and have a passion to get into the music business.  I’ve really enjoyed being able to work with professional software such as Logic Pro which is one of the main industry programmes for writing music and creating audio effects.  I didn’t originally see myself as a producer but now I feel that I have the skills to be able to go into the studio and produce my own work.  I’ve also learnt how to use all the technical equipment and gain a deeper understanding of how the music business works, including publishing rights.

I’ve found the music facilities and equipment at Bedford College absolutely amazing – they have everything we need including a top notch recording studio and some great technicians who are always ready to help us.  I’m now looking forward to taking a year out and then my aim is to study BMus (Hons) at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and specialise in Jazz.

Find out more about Music Technology Level 3

Previous School: Knights Templar School

The Animal Unit at Shuttleworth College has approximately 400 species from all over the world. Some of my favourite to work with are the nocturnal animals, including the bats and hedgehogs.  With so many species it can be quite daunting to get to grips with all the requirements, but you learn something new every day and the weekly practical sessions ensure you gain experience in every area.  

I’ve enjoyed the health and welfare unit the most. It has really brought to light the suffering and neglect that some animals unfortunately go through and equips you with the skills to make a difference.  

The tutors are extremely knowledgeable. We learn through their experience, not disengaging PowerPoint presentations, and this would be my main reason for recommending the College and study programme to others. It’s also a very mature environment; I’m on the Student Council which requires me to relay points brought up by fellow students in class at regular meetings, in order to help constantly improve things.

We’ve had some really great experiences, including spending a weekend at Woburn Safari Park raising money for the International Elephant Foundation. I also had an eight day work experience placement at Whipsnade Zoo with theory sessions in the mornings and opportunities to assist the keepers in the afternoons, from the big cats to the penguins.

Studying at Shuttleworth College has given me high aspirations and I’d love to eventually work abroad in conservation, perhaps with elephants or sea turtles to help preserve these magnificent species. 

Find out more about Animal Management Level 3

Previous School: St Thomas More

I’ve always been involved with horses; I currently have two of my own and am a member of my local branch of the Pony Club. Coming to College to study Horse Management has been the best experience. My riding has improved, I’ve learnt effective ways of carrying out jobs on the yard and enjoyed an exciting work placement – and that’s just been Year One!  

I really enjoy the riding element of the study programme; we get to ride two days a week – one flatwork and one jumping session - and there is a range of different ability horses to ride, which helps to develop your skills and confidence. We have yard duties every three weeks and have also been able to complete the BHS Progressive Riding Tests for free, which will be good to show future employers.

The tutors are all so friendly and always willing to give help and advice. It’s a great environment here and much more independent than school – you take responsibility for your own learning.

My favourite unit has been on behaviour. We looked at stereotypical behaviour in horses, as well as how the species has developed through the centuries. Another highlight from the first year was our work experience placement, which included fence judging for the day at Whitfield Eventing. I am looking forward to another placement next year.

I’d love to get into equine physiotherapy after I finish the study programme. My horse has had to have physio for an injury and it’s something I have become very interested in. I’d also be interested in teaching or work in equine welfare. 

Find out more about Horse Management Level 3

Luke is now a Transfer Representative at Thomas Cook

I’m delighted to be working for such a reputable company as Thomas Cook. I get paid to live abroad, travel and explore the world – which is fantastic!  My role as a Transfer Representative is to make sure that holidaymakers travel safely from the resort airport to their destination and return back for their flights home.  I accompany them on the coach and advise them about the climate, distance to the resort and give them any important information they need to know during their stay.

Half way through the Travel & Tourism course at Bedford College my tutor asked me what job I wanted to do and broke down the stages I would need to go through to be successful.  In fact one of my tutors had actually been a Holiday Representative in the past so she gave me great insight into the role. She explained everything including the daily routine as a representative, what I would need to do if faced with certain customer service situations and how to deal with unexpected incidents when on duty.

The tutors also gave me advice about the best time of year to look for jobs and where to look.  I applied directly to Thomas Cook and I had a pre-recorded interview via their website. Three days later they asked me to go to an assessment day.  I had taken an additional College certificate for resort representatives and I’m sure that this helped me to stand out from the other applicants and finally get the job.

Find out more about Travel & Tourism Level 3

Previous school: Redborne Upper School  

Once I’d finished school, the next logical step was to find a full-time course at college. I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to study, and Bedford College offered a much wider range of options compared to other colleges in the area.

I chose to study Electrical Installation, starting at Level 1, and am now studying at Advanced Level. I have found it really beneficial being able to work my way up through the levels here.          

I really enjoy the feeling of making progress in every aspect of the course, whether it's the theory or the more practical side of electrical installation.

The College has also helped me come to terms with how the working environment will be; our tutors have stressed numerous times about the working hours involved to the point where I'm mentally prepared.

The tutors treat you as an adult who is taking his/her next step to finding future employment. In fact, if there is anything I can recommend to others about Bedford College, it would be the tutors and how they are always willing to further you in any way they can, as well as their commendable amount of dedication to doing it. I don't think I wouldn't have progressed as far as I had without their support.

Find out more about Electrical Installation Advanced Level

When I left school I went straight to work on a building site and got involved with all the trades but the electrical side appealed to me most so I decided to get my qualifications in this area.  I did look at another college first of all but I heard there were lots of problems with the course, whereas Bedford College had been given great reviews.

Overall the course has been fantastic and one of the highlights for me was being involved at the WorldSkills UK final at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.  I was helping out on the stand and demonstrating how to wire a plug and build a motor.  The course also gave us the opportunity to visit a working nuclear power station, so we got to see for ourselves how electricity is generated on a huge scale.

I feel one 100% ready for the world of work now.  The course has opened lots of doors and the tutors are really helpful trying to find work and Apprenticeships for you, and I’m already working part-time.  My next steps are to progress on to the Level 3 course at Bedford College in September.

Find out more about Electrical Installation Level 2

Previous School: Bedford Academy

I started at Bedford College on the Level 2 Computing course. I came to live in the UK in 2013, so I needed to study English alongside my Computing qualification in order to improve my language skills.

I’ve had an interest in computing since childhood. The Level 2 course provided me with a broad introduction to IT, but I am really enjoying the Level 3 because we get to focus on networking. I find the way that computers communicate between each other really interesting. Generally, the course is very well rounded and the facilities here are good compared to other colleges. I also really like the location of the College because it is near to the river and the town centre.

The tutors are very good and supportive. They teach you in a more mature way than the teachers at school, and they give you the freedom to explore what interests you.  

As part of the course, I have undertaken a 10 week work experience placement at the Kempston branch of Barclays Bank. I got involved in lots of different tasks including helping to sort documentation and helping customers who came into the bank.

I also volunteered at The Skills Show, which is a big exhibition held at the NEC in Birmingham each year. The College had a stand there to exhibit its Computing courses and we had some ‘have a go’ networking activities that I helped to assist visitors with.

After my course I would like to go to university to study Computer Science.

Find out more about Computing Level 3

Previous School: Ashcroft High School, Luton

I’ve always had a passion for beauty and knew it was what I wanted to do from quite a young age. My favourite beauty treatment that I like to give is a facial; it’s so relaxing and makes you feel better about yourself. One day I’d love to own my own spa.

The course at College enables me to learn about lots of different treatments including waxing, manicures, pedicures and make-up – and because we are based in a working salon here at BROOKS, we have real clients to work with. It’s the fact that College is so hands-on that drew me to it after finishing school. Half of our time is spent in theory lessons and half doing practical, but I enjoy the theory just as much, as it helps you to learn more about the practical. We also cover health and safety, promotion and we get to work on the reception at BROOKS meeting and greeting customers.

As part of the course we have to do 50 hours of work experience, but I have done more hours than this at various places including Champneys Spa and local salons. We have also had training days with staff from Dermalogica and Steiner cruise ships.   

The tutors are really nice, easy to get along with and you know you can go to them for support. My next steps are to move on to the Level 3 course and also study for some of the part-time qualifications that the College offers. After that I will be looking at higher education courses.

Find out more about Beauty Therapy Level 2

Neil is now Video Editor and Film Maker at Not by Hook

If it wasn’t for Bedford College I wouldn’t have gone to university and I certainly wouldn’t have the career I have today.  That’s a fact.  The tutor on my Media Studies course was so inspiring that I loved the subject and thrived academically.

I have my own media agency now, Not by Hook, and I make films for a diverse range of national and international organisations.  I’ve just finished a short film for the Football Association (FA) which supported their activities for International Women’s Day.  Prior to that I was working with the Green Party to produce a candidate’s video for the general election.

Before I set up my own company I was a film maker for the London advertising agency Fallon and worked on some famous adverts such as the Cadbury’s gorilla drumming advert and the Sony BRAVIA advert, which depicted thousands of coloured balls bouncing down a hill in San Francisco.  I worked on these in the pre-production stage, which is the ideas or concept stage and helped clients to visualise what the final advert would look like.

There’s no doubt that the Media course at Bedford College provided me with all the practical skills I needed to work in this industry such as cameras and editing.  But it also gave me the creative freedom to come up with ideas and actually put them into action, along with the experience and insight into an industry that I had no previous knowledge of.  This seems unbelievable now as it’s what I live and breathe every day!

Find out more about Media Production Level 3

I came to Bedford College following quite a negative experience at sixth form. I’d enjoyed maths and physics from a young age, and wanted to continue with them; the College enabled me to do this in a more practical way than A-Levels, which I really liked.

I prefer the maths and mechanics side of the programme, because these complement my strongest subjects. However, I can’t deny that having a real life aeroplane in the workshop was a big draw when choosing what and where to study! After all, the practical is what engineering is all about.

I never thought I’d enjoy education as much as I do here. The tutors make each unit feel very different from the previous one and this helps to keep my mind fresh. They have even set me up with work experience at an aeronautical company. There is a mutual respect between tutor and student, and this is what pushes you forward.

Last year I won the Engineering Student of the Year award, and had the pleasure of going to the Mercedes F1 as a test technician. I worked beside a team that tested the engine for the Singapore Grand Prix.  I was also named runner up in the College’s overall Outstanding Student of the Year across all subject areas.

After College I would like to study Aerospace Engineering with Space Technology at university and would eventually like to be part of a team that sends space craft to Mars.

Robert is now a Parkour Instructor at Paramount Parkour

I love teaching Parkour. It’s a friendly sport and you can work as a team, helping each other to get better, overcome physical obstacles and conquer your own personal fears.  Parkour, or freerunning, is a non-competitive sport that focuses on using the body (without any equipment) to run, jump and climb. It develops agility, special awareness, balance and, of course, strength and fitness.

I’ve always been into fitness. From the age of four I was into martial arts and I was good at sports at school, so I knew I wanted a career in the fitness industry.  The Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and the Level 2 Gym Instructors course that I studied at Bedford College helped to boost my confidence and gave me the qualifications that I needed to teach in a gym. I also enjoyed learning about anatomy, physiology and nutrition, all of which have a big impact on sport performance. 

At the end of the course I got a full-time job at Paramount Parkour Academy in Milton Keynes.  An important part of my job is to ensure that my clients know all the safety rules and how to get over an obstacle safely. I have to explain what Parkour is and what it’s not.  It’s not always about flips.  It’s about getting from point A to point B as quickly and as safely as you can.  When I see clients overcome their fears, I feel a great sense of achievement.

Find out more about Sport Level 3 (Extended Diploma)

I’ve been interested in cars since the age of 12 when I used to work on a friend’s hot rod.  Bedford College was an obvious choice for me because it’s local and has great motor facilities at its Vehicle Technology Centre in Kempston.

I enjoyed the practical work more than the theory, particularly learning how to operate the different paint systems properly and efficiently, as well as learning the best ways to do filler work and welding.  I also enjoyed working on some of the different cars the College had such as the Mitsubishi rally car.

I found the atmosphere at College much more mature than school and the teachers were very supportive.  I have learning difficulties, but this wasn’t an issue as the teachers were happy to repeat things or demonstrate techniques in a visual way as this is my preferred learning style.  It also helped that we always worked in small groups.

The course definitely prepared me for work, particularly the practical skills such as what tools you need to use for which job and how to use them properly.  Overall it was a very good experience for me.

Find out more about Motor Vehicle Level 3

Previous school: John Ruskin College, London

I came to England four years ago from the Congo. I had always wanted to study law to enable me to help defend people and their rights, so I enrolled on to an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course at a college where I lived in London and worked my way up through the levels.

After finishing the ESOL courses, I realised that there were lots of aspects of law in business. I decided to enrol on to the Business full-time study programme here at Bedford College, where I could also study GCSE English and maths. I don’t regret my decision at all; it is such a good course. My favourite unit has been Exploring Business, where we’ve learnt about the inner workings of businesses.  

Outside of class I have been a Student Ambassador, helping the College Marketing department at Open Days and with data entry. I’ve also joined the Debating Society and created a club called Black Culture to help further enhance inclusion and diversity between students.

You have to attend a work experience placement as part of the course. I worked in the HR department of a care home in Bedford and was so proud when they offered me a part-time job at the end of it. I’ve just started as an official employee and am looking forward to staying on with them after my course finishes, before hopefully going to university to study International Relations. I would love to eventually become an Ambassador.

Find out more about Business Advanced Level

I’ve progressed through all the levels of Childcare, initially starting with Foundations Skills as I didn’t have any qualifications when I left school.  I’ve spent much of my life looking after my brothers who have special needs, so I know a lot about children and studying this course seemed to make sense.

I really enjoy being at College and I like this course because I’ve experienced a lost childhood myself and I want to make things better for other children.  I was very shy when I started the course, but I’m not now.  I’ve become more confident and more sociable. It’s all down to the praise and encouragement from my tutors. A lot of the tutors have helped me, they’ve honestly been amazing. 

The tutors also helped me organise some work experience.  I’m on a placement now at Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School working as a nursery nurse assistant.  I’m involved in planning play activities, observing the children and understanding how we can help each child develop further or if they need help with a specific problem.

Now I’m progressing on to the second year of my childcare Level 3 qualification there are a lot of options open to me, including getting a job in the sector or going on to higher education.

Find out more about Childcare Level 3

Previous School: Hastingsbury Upper School

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school, but I had enjoyed studying Health & Social Care so I decided to enrol on to a Childcare course here at the College. However, I’d always had an interest in cars. My dad owned a garage and my brother works in vehicle accident repair. Coming from a mostly female dominated course to this one was not a problem – there is a really nice atmosphere in the department and everyone is very welcoming. With no previous motor vehicle experience, I started at Level 1 and worked my way up.

I enjoy the practical side of the course as I like to get my hands dirty. The facilities are excellent – we usually get a car each to work on – and the tutors teach in a very interactive way. For example, they might bring a part of an engine into a theory lesson to help explain something technical. I much prefer this way of learning, compared to school. We also have companies come in to talk to us about the motor vehicle industry, including the HGV division of John Lewis, which is based in Milton Keynes.

Our tutor recently tasked us with contacting companies about Apprenticeship programmes. I had seen a poster around College about Vauxhall Apprenticeships and decided to apply. I have passed a maths assessment and have now got through to the second phase of the application process. I would like to pursue a career in the industry, preferably in management, such as a workshop manager, and an Apprenticeship would be a good step towards this. 

Find out more about Motor Vehicle Level 3

I wanted to do something that I really enjoyed and I love riding and working with horses – I’ve been doing it since I was eight years old.

The course covered everything from preparing you for working in a yard, to all the fun stuff like riding, the presentation of horses, dressage and jumping.  We’ve learnt about the day-to-day care of the horses and general animal health – not just for horses, but for small animals too.  We’ve also covered biology, including anatomy and fitness and I’ve completed my British Horse Society (BHS) qualifications too, which are important for getting a job with horses. 

We had two hours a week of riding and I was given the opportunity to ride the horses after College as I didn’t have access to my own horse like some other people.  We were also able to use College horses to compete and our class organised a big inter-College event at Shuttleworth.

The facilities at Shuttleworth are brilliant.  We have 23 good stables, a big indoor school where we ride, and have access to a horse walker, which not many colleges have.

My tutors have been great and helped me so much, particularly as I live in halls. Last year I was almost ready to quit the course, but they sat down with me and made me realise how much I had already achieved.  I’m really pleased that I listened to them, I don’t know what I would be doing now if I hadn’t continued my studies. I’ve really enjoyed it and I don’t want to leave!

Find out more about Horse Management Level 3