Health and Social Care

When I came to Lewisham College I couldn't get straight on to the course I wanted to, because the qualifications I had from at home in Jamaica weren't transferable. So I did an entry course to improve my English, Maths and Communication skills, and then I progressed on to the BTEC.

Last year was really challenging but this year I'm getting good grades and everyone's really impressed with me. I'm on my way to handing in university level work.

The course here has prepared me for going to university, and it also teaches you about different careers that are available to you within the sector. It made me realise what I wanted to do.

I now want to be a therapeutic radiographer. I've lost a few family members to cancer, so I'd like to be able to give something back by helping to treat people.

I've got an offer to study therapeutic radiography at Birmingham so I've just got to meet their requirements. I've seen their lab and I can't wait to go!

I'll be sad to leave Lewisham College but happy at the same time because I'll be pursuing my career. I won't forget this College. I think a lot of people will remember me after I'm gone.

I got into the care industry because I wanted to help people. I've got 15 years plus experience as a registered nurse. I've done everything in nursing, right up to being ward manager.

In 2002, I trained to be an assessor for NVQs, and that later led me into teaching. At Lewisham College we've got experienced, caring, staff who want to see our students succeed. We pass on our knowledge in an active and engaging way.

I'm able to fit in with the staff here because they're very learner focused, and I'm very learner focused.

Students respond to people they can relate to, and they feel secure knowing that you've got industry knowledge. Because of all the practice experience I've had, when I'm teaching I can give real life examples to the students that they can learn from.

Our students progress on to many different things. Some go on to university and go into nursing, midwifery or social work, others go into domiciliary care or become paramedics.

Health and Social Care students have gone on to some of London's leading universities such as King's College Nightingale Institute, Goldsmiths and Southbank to study and professionally train in a range of courses.  These included Midwifery, Nursing (Mental Health), Adult (Paediatric and Learning Disabilities), Social Work, Youth and Community Work, Teaching and Psychology.

We have a range of facilities to support and engage students.  These include specialist rooms for health and social care which provide a range of work-based equipment and resources to support learning and skills development.

To further support learning, work placements and employer-related activities is an essential part of all our courses, to help develop work specific skills and practices.  This has enabled many of our students to secure full-time employment on completion of their courses, and help support university applications.