Inspired by his family members who work in the web development industry, James chose a T Level course in this area to gain industry experience during his studies. As he is completing his course James works at Surrey Heartlands six hours a week, assisting with their databases. He finds the mix of classroom theory and practical industry experience beneficial, and hopes to use what he’s learning to start a career in web development.
What inspired you to choose this course?
I grew up around this sort of technology due to my family members working within this industry and I have always been interested in computers and video games. I was very close to my uncle and he was a big inspiration, so seeing him work in Web Development made this career path very interesting to me.
What made ESC stand out to you?
East Surrey College is close to where I live so it’s very convenient for travel. It also has a lot of courses which I found really interesting compared to others in the local area. The facilities are great too.
What do you enjoy most about your course?
I enjoy designing and developing websites because web development forces you to know code if you want to make the website exactly the way you want. This means it can be quite challenging because it’s such a broad field and there’s a lot to learn. But I really enjoy it because there’s always a sense of accomplishment when you manage to code a solution.
Right now, we are working on a brief for a client and creating a website to fit their branding and requirements so its been really enjoyable.
Overall, how do you find the teaching/support?
The teaching and support are very good. When there’s a problem you can ask the teachers, and they will do their best to make sure you understand it. They won’t give up until they know that you fully understand the problem and know how to overcome it.
Have you done any work experience during this course?
As part of my T Level I work with the NHS Surrey Heartlands six hours a week. We go through a lot of different tasks such as learning about the different CRM tools and Database options available, and how they can be tailored to a certain scenario.
So far, the experience has improved my teamwork and collaboration as there’s a lot of going through our ideas and thoughts in group settings. These skills are useful because they are transferrable and can be applied to working life after college.
Have you taken part in any events/trips/competitions/exhibitions or had any speakers visit?
We went to the Bett Show which is the world’s largest celebration of education technology. It was a good trip and we learned about different softwares. It was very inspiring, there’s so much potential when exploring the online world and artificial intelligence!
As a class we also visited the university of Roehampton, which was great as it allowed me a chance to see closer what university life is like and the path I could take after college if I don’t jump straight into a career.
What are your future plans once you’ve finished your course?
My plan is to get straight into working once I finish my course, preferably in web software development to create websites, or possibly video games.
Studying a T Level has given me a huge advantage and will play a big role in securing a job position, as I have a head start from already having some work experience.
Would you recommend ESC to a future student? If so, why?
I would recommend East Surrey College because there’s a wide variety of courses available and all of the teachers are really supportive. The College provides you with the necessary tools, equipment and support you need to succeed and reach your goals. It’s a good place to start your aspirations when choosing the career you want.
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