On a personal level, I have gained confidence not only in my work but in myself. The classroom activities have provided a variety of confidence as well as my knowledge. I feel the access course is a great stepping stone in preparation for university as it provides all the necessary requirements in a fun and encouraging manner. The course has given me strength and determination to continue my education further and has encouraged me that I am capable of succeeding. I am grateful for the chance to experience such learning and support from the teachers and the college overall. I will greatly miss all the teachers that I have had the chance to work with, but I know I will carry with me all that I have learnt at my time at Southampton City College.

Thohmina has been successful in gaining a full time permanent role as administration assistant with a well known Southampton Insurance Broker (Brightside PLC). Thohmina endured a three-stage appointment process of presentation, role play and a formal interview and happily reports that she starts her new job in August with a healthy starting salary and an NVQ training programme.

Thohmina says that the experience of presenting in her classes and practise at role plays and interviews really helped her to prepare thoroughly for the rigorous appointment process.

Abdul came from Cantell Maths and Computing College and started as a student on the First Diploma in ICT course. Through his first year he showed talent for hardware and software solutions to PC problems. He progressed with merit and distinction to the Level 3 IT course.

During the two year Diploma course he proved to have talent and passion for object oriented programming, software design and network management. He also demonstrates skills in analysing and troubleshooting security and software problems in varied computing environment.

Abdulaziz is hardworking student with calm but inspiring personality, he has a great sense of humour and ability to focus individually on tasks and also to encourage his fellow students in various team activities and problem-solving practice. He is also a group ambassador for City Vox and is involved in a community work to provide football coaching and training to young boys from St Mary’s area.

Abdulaziz has an ambition to Design Software solutions which determine his high achievement and choice for University course.

Melanie comments "I have been consistently impressed with the quality of teaching provided and the overall structure and delivery of the material covered. I feel that it has met my expectations, by providing me with a solid academic and professional basis from which to pursue my career as a professional counsellor. This grounding has already enabled me to work effectively in both community and private practice settings."

"I have now been practising counsellor for the last 3 years, which is a requirement on the degree course. Working at City Counselling as a volunteer counsellor, I have had the opportunity to have clients with different issues and had the opportunity to work with clients with mental health problems".

"I feel that now, almost having finished the degree, I am a capable therapist and also, due to the learning and training we have received a very knowledgeable one."

"The confidence that I have gained in my practice and knowledge as the counsellor, I feel it’s due to the commitment of our tutor, without whom I don’t think I would’ve been as prepared as I am now to start my career in my private practice or gain an employment as a therapist."

City College has been good for me. I don’t mind exams but prefer course work which this course offers. During work placements I worked at the Multi-Cultural Day Centre which gave me an understanding of other cultures and how it influences people in their life choices e.g. food and eating customs. Then there was Headway (Specialising in those with head injuries). This provided me with insight how to be professional and manage my time. Taking service users out - you really need to think about their needs and communication preferences - something I learnt on the course which I was able to put into practice.

I feel so lucky to be able to go to University of Southampton to study Adult Nursing and this course has given me the opportunity to progress into Higher Education."

So I came to City College and loved it because the course was a full-time BTEC, purely devoted to the subject I enjoyed and would give me enough UCAS points to get me into university, which is where I wanted to go."

"There’s a great atmosphere and I’ve made so many new friends. I’ve just been offered places at five different universities and I’ve chosen to go to Portsmouth University to do a degree in criminology and forensic studies. Once I’ve finished that I plan to do a Masters in Forensic Studies."

"It's been brilliant studying at City College and I've really gained in confidence, knowledge and experience. The teachers are really nice and I have done six different work placements at places like schools, nurseries, care homes and hospitals. It means I have had a chance to look at all the different areas I could get into once I leave college."

"I've just been accepted to study a degree in child health nursing at the University of Southampton. I was one of 2,000 students who applied for just 65 places so I’m really happy! Now I'm a step closer to my goal of becoming a pediatric nurse."

"I would recommend Southampton City College to anyone! English, Maths and ICT are skills that you will need throughout your life whatever you do and wherever you go. My training officer agrees and says I would not have passed the entrance exams to become a PCSO if I had not attended classes"

Fiona originally enrolled on a short 'Keeping up with the Children' Literacy course taught by the College for Southampton City Council as she wanted to be able to help her 8 year old son with his homework

She found the Family Learning course so interesting and enjoyable that she decided to enrol on Skills For Life courses, where she improved her ICT, gained a Level 1 and 2 in Literacy and Level 1 in Numeracy,

I completed the course with honours and won a student award for dedication at the annual City College student award ceremony. Due to the results I achieved at City College I managed to gain a three year Academic Achievement Scholarship at Bournemouth University on a BA (Hons) course in Television Production.

Southampton City College gave me a great foundation which meant I was able to be one of the most practically experienced students in my academic year. Whilst there, I specialised in sound production and also won a competition which found me pitching to Channel 4!

I also worked with a number of independent film companies as a camera assistant, sound engineer, production manager and marketing co-ordinator. I also worked at Southern Echo, based at Southampton, as a video reporter. I completed my Bournemouth University degree and was asked to return to City College as a media tutor.

I have since completed my first year in teacher training with one year left to complete at a master level. I then plan to complete my masters by studying a Masters in Creative & Media Education.

Lindsey has continuously studied dance throughout her course and has achieved and completed many qualifications during her study, Most of which are extracurricular or privet lessons outside of the college time table and Lindsey has show complete professionalism balancing both without affecting her Btec National Diploma.

Lindsey shows a great interest in critical theory and she has been able to debate and argue ideals of theatre. Over the course Lindsey has covered and understood Intertextuallity, Anthropology, Linguistics and Cultural Feminism.

Lindsey has shown immense professionalism and maturity throughout the course and I feel that she would rise to, and complete any challenge given to her on a level 4 undergraduate programme.

Lindsey has aspirations to work in the professional industry of Dance and Performing Arts and to also go on to complete her P.G.C.E and teach within the performing area.

Ian Rowsell
Head of Performing Arts
Southampton City College

She commenced her career in the travel industry in March 2011 and is now working for Thomson TUI as a representative for the summer season.

This company is the largest in the UK Travel industry and she will now have the opportunity to develop her future career.

I have enjoyed this course very much because I experienced, learnt and tried new things. The easy part was the task because the teachers have been very helpful and they’re always there when I need them. The worst part was doing a presentation in front of the class, but I got over it because the teacher was there guiding and helping me.

I plan to stay here in City College and continue Travel and Tourism level 3, because I want to finish this course and hopefully, when I finish, I plan to go to university to enrich my knowledge.

She is working at their chateau in Normandy. Travel Bound are part of Thomson/TUI and so this is a really positive start for Kerryann to continue and develop her future career in travel.