St Peter the Apostle High School pupil, Joanne Durnan started her College experience on the National 5 Engineering Skills for Work course in S4 as part of our Senior Phase Schools Programme in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council.
She knew because of she had a passion for STEM subjects and for problem solving that the Engineering course may be something she would enjoy, so she applied for through her pastoral care teacher. She said that doing this course opened her eyes to the industry and potential career paths,
“Before starting the National 5 Engineering Skills for Work course when I was in S4 I had a really limited knowledge of what engineering entailed. However, I quickly began to love the hands-on approach the course offered and especially appreciated the variety within the course as I explored the different disciplines with skills based on the work environment”.
After completing the National 5, she decided she wanted to continue on her Engineering learning pathway and progressed to the Foundation Apprenticeship 2-year programme in S5. She said, “Completion of the course naturally led to me progressing to a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering Systems – a fantastic course blending academic and practical skills in a wide range of engineering-based subjects.”.
Speaking about her College experience, Joanne said,
“The College support has always been exceptional with what I needed whether it is support with my courses or with assistance with references and applications for jobs or further apprenticeships.”
With a long-term goal after school to join the Royal Navy, Joanne hopes to put the skills and qualifications she has gained from her time at college to good use pursuing a career as a Marine Engineer. We wish her all the best for the future!
Check out our dedicated pages to find out more about our Senior Phase Schools Programme and Foundation Apprenticeships