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Danny Stackhouse
Health & Social Care Level 2 and Access to HE
Central Lancaster High School
2019 - 2023
Adult Nursing Student at University of Cumbria
100% do it! The Access to HE course helped me develop my skillset further particularly in time keeping, communication, team work and problem solving; all useful skills which I will carry with me into my degree course at university. The staff are so supportive too, and the course gives you the chance to meet people with common career interests as well.
Danny left Central Lancaster High School in 2016 and started an Electrical Installation Level 2 course here at LMC. Quickly realising this wasn’t the route for him, he started working in a local care home where he found his passion for care and nursing.
While working as a care assistant in the nursing home Danny discovered a real interest in nursing, and decided that was the career route for him, so set off on his path to progress onto University. Although he had achieved many GCSE’s whilst in high school, he didn’t have his Maths GCSE, which is a strict requirement for any University course in the nursing field, so he came back to LMC part time to complete that.
I knew I needed a GCSE in maths to get onto a University degree course, so coming back to Lancaster & Morecambe College in 2019 to do that was the best option for me, whilst still working at the care home locally.
Once he had passed his GCSE in maths he spoke to the tutors at College about how best to achieve his dreams of becoming a nurse, and mapped out his path to ensure he gained a place at University. This started with Health & Social Care Level 2 in 2021, so that he could progress onto the Access to HE course in 2022. The Access to HE Diploma is specifically designed for people aged 19 and over who want to progress onto university.
I learnt so much on the Access course especially in subjects that I had never come across before such as Psychology, Human Physiology and Sociology and Social Issues in health care. It also introduced me to referencing before getting to University so that I was prepared for the workload that was due to come with the degree.
Danny was able to continue working while studying and found he could apply what he learnt at College into his daily responsibilities as well as respecting the residents' dignity and caring for their needs.
The Access course made it possible for me to apply to university and gain a place at University of Cumbria, where I will be starting in September 2023.
When asked what the best bits of his course were, Danny said:
The Access to HE course helped me develop my skillset particularly in time keeping, communication, team work and problem solving; all useful skills which I will carry with me into my degree course at university. At College I was able to develop my knowledge further, gain new skills and make life long friends too.
When asked what advice he would give to someone who was thinking about taking the Access to HE course, Danny said,
100% do it. The staff are so supportive and it gives you the chance to meet people with common career interests too.
Danny was also nominated by the tutors here at LMC for the National Access to HE Excellence Award via Ascentis and was chosen amongst all entries as the Runner Up for the Outstanding Commitment to Study Award, an amazing accolade to achieve. One of the judges stated,
Working in care through the pandemic and still wanting to progress their career in that direction is a testament to this learner's commitment to improving the lives of others. Through all the challenges this learner has faced, it is clear that their dedication to study is fuelled by a real passion for helping people. They have come a long way, and I hope they continue their journey with the same enthusiasm.
Ian Parkinson, Director of Curriculum and Innovation, presented Danny with his award as well as a £200 cheque for his achievements.
Well done Daniel and good luck from all here at LMC in your adventures at University!
YOUR TUTOR(S)
I would say that Hospitality & Catering industry isn’t an easy option, but it can be really rewarding and enjoyable if you work hard at it. It also has excellent job prospects at the end of the course, as the majority of our completing students gain full time employment within high class establishments
My favourite part of working at Lancaster & Morecambe college is watching students progress and supporting them with their learning. I also love knowing they are learning within a hairdressing environment and being able to see them develop their skills and knowledge in hairdressing.
I love working with people of all ages and backgrounds and seeing them make progress and achieve their qualifications, sometimes in “small” ways, such as remembering how to do a written multiplication.
Be prepared to work hard and be challenged. The more you put in, the more you will get out of the course. It's a rewarding experience as you can clearly see your skills develop. There is also a great demand for skilled plasterers and the potential for good earnings, so why not give it a go?
Industry specific apprenticeships are a great way to learn new skills and knowledge, achieve a recognised qualification and earn a wage. Customer service is the corner stone of every successful business, and courses at LMC will help you identify, improve and introduce these skills successfully.
My favourite part of this role is working with such an amazing team here at Lancaster & Morecambe College, and also being able to pass on my industry knowledge to all my students and support them in their journey to becoming a Beauty Therapist.
ALUMNI
Bobby Bleasdale
Bernie Foy
Charlotte Triolaire
Bethany Blundell
Danny Stackhouse
Beccy Wheildon
