Students set for new career paths thanks to Access course success

They say crime doesn’t pay, but for a group of South Essex College students, studying the subject certainly has paid off.

The five students are now on course to either study criminology and forensics at degree level, or find employment in the field, despite not having the necessary qualifications a year ago.

The group decided to study on the Access to Higher Education (Forensics and Criminology) programme at the College, which provided them with the necessary skills and qualifications to progress on to higher education.

Access courses are for adults over the age of 19 who want to study at degree level but do not have the qualifications to do so. They are ideal for people who are returning to education or are looking to forge a new career path, as well as those who may not have gained the necessary grades at college to progress on to university.

Danielle Howsin, and Holly Robertson will now study on the Criminology & Forensic Investigation degree at the college, while Saffron Whieldon is heading to Bournemouth University to study Criminology and Sociology, and Frank Thompson will study Sociology, Criminology, Research and Learning at Manchester University.

Bnika Jackson, who was unemployed when she enrolled on to the course, now has the qualifications to find work as a forensic examiner.

Danielle decided to return to education aged 29 after spending time looking after her two children aged six and three.

She said: “It has been hard but I believe that if you really want something you should just get in there and get on with it. The hard work has really been worth it.”

“My driving force is that I want my children to know that you can do whatever you want to do at any age.”

Frank decided to retrain after studying engineering at college but decided the industry wasn’t for him.

The 20-year-old, who works part-time alongside his studies said: “I wanted to go to university and continue learning but I didn’t have the right qualifications.

“My company, my parents and the College have been really supportive and although it can be difficult at times you will succeed if you are determined and committed.”

Access courses, which are full-time, one year programmes, are available at the College in a variety of subjects. If you study an Access course and then progress onto and complete a degree programme, fees for the Access course are written off.

If you decide not to study at degree level after the Access course, you will still earn a Level 3 Diploma, which is the equivalent to three A-Levels.

Find out more about Access courses at the College at www.southessex.ac.uk/access