I really felt like I had to follow what everyone else was doing. The Learning Foundry showed me that I didn’t have to – Esme’s story.
There is so much pressure on young people to make decisions about their future, and we meet a lot of learners who have been pushed into traditional routes because they just weren’t sure about their next steps.
Esme went straight into sixth form after her GCSE, simply because she wasn’t sure what else was out there. Two years after she picked up her GCSE results, we caught up with Esme to see what’s changed – and what happened when she was introduced to The Learning Foundry.
What were you thinking when you got your GCSE results?
I was obviously nervous for my results but daunted about what was going to happen next. Because of COVID I went into the exam hall alone which was also scary.
As soon as I collected my results, I signed up for sixth form – right there and then! Everyone else signed up for sixth form, so I did as well. It felt like the only option. I didn’t realise there was anything else out there for me at the time.
How did things go when you started sixth form?
I knew sixth form wasn’t for me, probably even before I started. I already knew that classroom studying wasn’t for me, I found the school structure hard, I found exams hard and I could just feel more and more pressure building.
It just carried on and on as well because I didn’t know what else to do. I sat my AS levels and even started year 13 before I knew for certain that I’d had enough. I knew I didn’t want to go to uni, so I just bit the bullet and stopped going down that traditional route that, at the time, it felt like everyone else was doing.
So what happened next?
My Mum referred me to The Learning Foundry. She’d done some training later on in her career, and thought it could be good for me.
Within two days, I was in The Learning Foundry’s office talking to one of their development coaches. She was amazing, I can’t say it enough. Supportive doesn’t do her justice. She sat down with me and talked me through all the options available to me – options I didn’t even know existed!
What course did you do with The Learning Foundry?
It didn’t take long before I started a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship with The Learning Foundry, working with the Police Federation.
Again, my Development Coach was the first one congratulating me, really celebrating and she was genuinely so pleased for me.
I’ve been doing my apprenticeship for a year in December and I’ve never looked back. I’m so grateful for The Learning Foundry for finding me this amazing opportunity, I can’t imagine what else I’d be doing!
What’s next?
I’ve got over a year left of my apprenticeship, by that time, my friends will still be at uni and I’ll be ready to take my next steps!
I’m so happy in my current role, it would be great to climb the ladder – who knows what job I’ll be doing in a few years time.
Watch this space!
Esme is one of so many of our learners who come to The Learning Foundry after being pulled onto the traditional route of education that really isn’t for them. We have a dedicated and supportive team here to guide any learner of any age through their options and all the ways of making talent shine.
Are you, or someone you know, ready to start your journey?
Get in touch with a member of our team today, call 0300 123 8088