Student Case Studies

Internet Software Development Fdsc - Richard

Former School(s): Carrington School (The Warwick School)

When did you study at ESC and why did you choose us?  

School wasn’t a good fit for me and I had to leave at 15 for personal reasons so didn’t get any qualifications. I was advised to look into vocational courses and joined ESC as part of the Kickstart programme in 2013. This gave me a chance to do tasters for various courses to help me decide which direction I wanted to go in.  

What led you to choose this subject?  

I’ve had an interest in Business and IT since school. I initially wanted to study IT at College, but didn’t have the grades, so first did Business Level 1 alongside GSCE English and Functional Skills Maths. 

After getting my Maths GSCE, I took IT levels 3 and 4 before progressing on to an HND then embarking on the Fdsc in Internet Software Development. 

What did you enjoy about the course?  

The FdSc is an?intense course that really challenges you but it’s a great qualification to gain entry into the IT sector!   
 
It also brought out the creativity in me as you have freedom to meet the brief in your own way.  

How did you find the teaching/support? 

Brilliant! The tutors were intelligent but not intimidating, always friendly and approachable.  

They are amazing guides to help you achieve your beset grade and learn as much as you can. I have nothing but respect and admiration for them. 

How did the course prepare you for your job? What specific skills did you learn that have helped you? 

I use many of the skills at work that I learned at ESC including web development, social media and hardware updates and maintenance. 

What were your next steps after College?  

I studied for a Computing Bsc top-up at Nescott. After leaving Nescott in 2021, I was offered a position as IT Administrator at Kind Care at Home - a local domiciliary care company set up by my mother’s carer. 

What do you enjoy most about your work?  

The things I like most about my current role are that it is person-centred, and I get to do a bit of everything. This ranges from IT maintenance and training to dealing with staff and clients to risk assessments and recruitment. 

What are your future plans? 

In the future, I’d like to be a teacher of IT / Business, possibly at East Surrey College! 

Would you recommend ESC? What advice you would give to current or future students? 

Definitely - it’s insane how much this college has done to help me flourish.  

My advice would be to listen to tutors as they have the best industry knowledge and experience. Always approach them if you need help, and stick with it! 

Want to boost your potential in the the world of IT? Check out our HE courses here