Rachel Britton

Access to HE Alumni, Rachel Britton, shared her experience of studying Humanities and Social Science at Middlesbrough College, leading to her gaining a place on a BA (Hons) Social Work degree. 

“I have always wanted a career in children’s social work. Initially, I believed it was too late, given my age, motherhood, and educational gap. A close friend introduced me to the Humanities and Social Sciences Access to HE course, which would allow me to pursue a BA in Social Work at university upon completion. I felt excited that my dream career could be a reality, so I enrolled. 

“I enjoyed all the subjects. We had an excellent group of students that supported one another. I gained a best friend on the course; our support for each other has continued throughout university, and we will start a career together in children’s social work in September. I thoroughly enjoyed the psychology and sociology components of the course, especially learning about social learning theory, crime and deviance, which sparked my interest in human behaviour.   

“Each staff member supported my learning and feedback from assignments helped strengthen my academic skills in preparation for university, particularly my writing skills, research abilities and self-confidence. My tutor always went above and beyond to clarify anything I did not understand via email, telephone, Microsoft Teams or in person. Thanks to the detailed feedback on the work submitted and guidance from staff, I identified areas I needed to focus on to improve my grades. I went from a pass on my first few assignments to completing the course with overall distinctions in every module. 

“The overall course increased my ability to read and comprehend content from reputable websites, journals, and books to incorporate into my assignments, which improved my academic writing.  The learning content in Access HE correlated well with the modules delivered during my social work degree and it helped me better understand the social work modules. I believe my learning and preparation during the Access HE has contributed to me achieving an overall 1^st class honours on my Social Work Degree. I have accepted a job offer in children’s social work, which I am excited to start in September after spending the summer with my children.  

“Since completing all my studies, I have developed a strong passion and interest in trauma-informed practice; I believe there is always a cause for a child’s behaviour. I believe that taking a step back, looking at the possible reasoning for the behaviour rather than the behaviour itself, and identifying a child’s strengths to build on are key to implementing the correct support tailored to the child’s needs to create positive change. One of my biggest career goals is to raise awareness of trauma-informed practice and expand my expertise to improve outcomes for children in all environments.  

“I would 100% recommend an Access to HE diploma; it was the best decision I have ever made. The learning content in the social policy module broadened my awareness of political ideology and legislation that influenced Britain.  

“I advise scheduling time to work on assignments and taking regular breaks to allow your brain to rest. Keeping a diary is essential for organisation, planning your work and keeping track of deadlines. Getting into a routine like this early will make it easier to manage your time and workload within the university and social work. Do not give up at the first hurdle; always remember your end goal. Follow feedback advice from tutors. If you have questions and need help, never be afraid to ask; the tutors will be happy to help you.   

“Always remember you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. With passion and determination, the sky is the limit!” 

Course: Access to HE in Humanities and Social Science