A student who completed a university preparation course at Coleg Sir Gâr has been awarded UK runner-up for the Outstanding Academic Achievement category of the national Keith Fletcher Memorial Access to Higher Education Learner Prize.
Freya Hutton-Lightfoot, 25, from Boncath, studied an access to higher education course in healthcare, which is a university entry qualification and preparation programme for university study
She also won Agored Cymru’s Learner of the Year award 2017 and Coleg Sir Gâr’s Principal’s Award for Lifelong Learning this year for achieving straight distinction grades and 45 full-mark distinction credits as well as accomplishing 100 per cent in two chemistry exams.
Freya was home-schooled and despite completing A-levels at a comprehensive school, without formal GCSEs, universities were rejecting her applications.
She took on a role working with Boots pharmacy and dispensary where she gained experience in healthcare and thought about returning to full-time education but believed she was too old. “I’ve had the pleasure of working beside many healthcare professionals and this gave me the confidence to apply for the course,” she said.
Bethan Norman, lecturer in access at Coleg Sir Gâr nominated said: “I was immediately impressed by the high academic level that Freya came into the course with, particularly due to fact that she was home schooled and did not have any GCSEs.
“This demonstrates just how much work she has put in for her to develop into the outstanding academic that she is today and I am sure that she will be successful at university where she is currently studying adult nursing.”
Freya Hutton-Lightfoot added: “The course is probably more demanding than A-levels with essays, exams and assignments but I would definitely recommend it 100 per cent.
“It completely changed my prospects and without it I had no university place but with the qualification I was offered places at all of my chosen universities.”
As a result of the award, Freya Hutton-Lightfoot will soon be invited to a presentation evening in London.
Pic: Freya Hutton-Lightfoot receiving Coleg Sir Gâr’s Principal’s Award for Lifelong Learning in December 2017. She is pictured with course tutor Bethan Norman, Lee Waters AM and Barry Liles, principal of Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion.