Claire Hellings
Highers, National Qualifications & Units
Science: Routes to Higher Education
“I now have qualifications and I’ve found a rewarding career that I love. I’d recommend the Highers course at NESCol to anyone who wants options for entry to a wide range of university degrees. “
After working as a school administrator while she raised her children, Claire (40), decided she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare once they had grown up, with aspirations of becoming a physiotherapist. Not having the qualifications to apply to university, Claire decided to do the Highers course at NESCol.
“I found the prospect of returning to learning pretty daunting to begin with as it had been so long since I’d done any study. However my fears were unfounded as I settled into the course really quickly and absolutely loved the challenge. The course allows you to choose four Highers from six subjects and you complete the course over the space of a year.”
Claire continued, “The people I met on the course were just lovely and we became a really tight knit group. I was the oldest but didn’t feel out of place at all and we’re still in touch. The lecturers were brilliant, they delivered the subjects well, were very supportive and I really did get so much out of the course. “
After successfully completing the course and gaining her four Highers with three As and one B, Claire took a part-time job at Stephen Hospital in Dufftown as a Nursing Healthcare Support Worker to gain work experience in the health sector. She applied to study Physiotherapy at RGU in September 2023 and was delighted to be offered a place, a great achievement considering only 10% of applicants are successful. However, Claire has now decided against going down the physiotherapy route after discovering that her true vocation is nursing.
“I just love my job at the hospital and find it so satisfying. I’m being supported by the NHS to complete my nursing degree via the Open University part-time so that I can keep working. The route I set out on when I decided to return to education has changed along the way but I see that as a huge positive. I now have qualifications and I’ve found a rewarding career that I love. I’d recommend the Highers course at NESCol to anyone who wants options for entry to a wide range of university degrees. “