In this prodcast, we revisit four students whom we spoke to earlier in the year.  We catch up with them to find out how they got on, what their experience has been like and what their advice and guidance would be for anyone thinking of embarking upon their own Access journey.  There are some invaluable insights into how they have changed and the impact this has had on their personal, let alone professional, lives.  "Would they do it all again?", the resounding answer is yes with a few caveats for the unweary!  Listen and you'll discover that Access to HE is indeed for everyone but go into the journey with your eyes open armed with buckets full of enthusiasm and commitment.  The course is challenging but ultimately more than worth the effort.  "It's like running a marathon...the euphoria at the end, the sense of achievement is incredible", says one student.

Listen, learn and enjoy!

In this programme John Earland, the One Awards Access to HE Manager, is in conversation with Jo Fletcher-Saxon, Assistant Principal - Higher and Adult Education & Practitioner Research Lead at Ashton 6th Form College.  

The programme explores Jo's role at the college and her journey to it.  We discover that Jo studied an Access to HE Diploma too before embarking upon a career in teaching, so has first hand experience of the transformative power of the qualification.  We also discover Jo's passion for FE research, podcasts, and her flock of sheep!  All will be revealed!

In this programme John will be speaking with Dennese Bloomer from Bishop Auckland College.  Like all Access tutors, Dennese has all the qualities need to be a fantastic teacher, adviser and advicate for adult education.  Dennese's own unique approach inspires her students to achieve amazing things and she remains in touch with them long after they have left the college.

As well as exploring what Dennese does day to day on Access to HE, we also discover a lot more about her too.  What her hopes and dreams are, what brought her into teaching in the first place and her her commitment to teaching.  Her dedication to Access to HE and adult education exudes through all her answers.  We also find out about a rather unexpected passion for a certain type of sport!  All will be revealed in this terrific interview!  Take a listen and enjoy.

In this programme John Earland, the One Awards Access to HE Manager, is in conversation with Alison Zucker, a Lead External Moderator at One Awards.  The programme explores the key role of the external moderator in helping to maintain and raise educational standards across the Access to HE Diploma qualification.  External moderators also provide help, advice, guidance, training and support to those involved in the delivery of the qualification.  All this activity is focused on making sure that the qualification remains fit for purpose in preparing students for higher education study.  The responsibility is immense but as Alison says it is highly rewarding and enjoyable.  We also discover quite a few things about Alison that very few people know, including a bizarre incident in Bogota, a few chocolatey adventures whilst at a boarding school with a difference and other stories involving The Yorkshire Ripper Marches and Mr and Mrs West from Gloucester!  All will be revealed!

In this programme John Earland, the One Awards Access to HE Manager, is in conversation with Kate Gibbon, an Access to HE Tutor at Middlesbrough College.  The programme explores Kate’s distance learning programme and what motivates her about working on this course.  It also explores Kate’s background and her own educational and working journey from teaching, moving into the health profession as an Occupational Therapist and someone working in Mental Health Services to returning to teaching.  Kate also reveals a few surprising and intriguing personal stories which are definitely not to be missed!  Tutors play a pivotal role in the whole qualification and this programme reminds us all that tutors have lives outside the qualification realm too!  For those new to teaching on an Access course, Kate’s experience and advice provides inspiration delivered with humour and humility at a time when we definitely need both.
 
 For more information visit www.oneawards.org.uk/accesstohe

In this programme John Earland, the One Awards Access to HE Manager, interviews four new Access to HE students.  The programme explores their careers ambitions and what motivated them in the first place to undertake an Access to HE course.  The four students comes from a very wide range of backgrounds, with very different life experiences and expectations.  For anyone thinking of changing their lives, this podcast  shows that anyone can do this and why they should seriously give this life changing course a go.

For more information visit www.oneawards.org.uk/accesstohe

In this episode we take a look at the organisation that regulates the Access to HE Diploma qualification in the UK and that's the Quality Assurance Agency for HE or QAA.  The programme 'uncovers' the role of the Access to HE Manager at QAA, Julie Mizon, and we find out about what she does and follow her journey to become the custodian of a truly life-changing and transformational qualification. 

We discover some unusual information about Julie too, such as what life is like on a long boat moored in Gloucester and ask her to gaze into the future to see what life for Access is going to be moving forward.

If you want to find out more about Access to HE, visit www.oneawards.org.uk or visit the QAA  Access to HE website.

Title music by Kevin MacLeod - Funk Game Loop