Foundation Apprenticeship Spotlight - James Crockart
At UHI Perth, we work closely with all Senior Secondary schools in Perth and Kinross to respond to local and national employment opportunities through both vocational and academic paths. Each year, between 400 and 500 young people take a Schools College Partnership as part of their school timetable. The partnership allows pupils a greater choice in a variety of subject areas, to develop practical, vocational and academic skills.
Foundation Apprenticeships (FA) are a new and exciting opportunity, and the delivery involves a blended approach combining knowledge and understanding with the application of skills in the workplace. In this week’s blog, we meet a student who has just finished their FA.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is James Crockart, and I am from Perth.
What school do/did you attend and what year are you in?
I attended Perth Academy from 2019-2024 and I was in my sixth year of studying there.
You have been studying Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare through the School/College Partnership at UHI Perth. How did you hear about this course and why did you choose it?
I heard about the Foundation Apprenticeship through my sister who was also doing the course at the time. I chose to do this specific course because I had an interest in having a job in Healthcare and the FA would help me to get there and further my knowledge and skills.
How have you found the transition between school and college? Was it different to what you expected?
I found the transition between school and college very weird and different at first as it is a more independent way of studying and a more laid-back environment than school is. Studying at college was not what I expected it to be, I expected a more demanding environment, but it is actually the complete opposite.
What has been your favourite thing about the course?
My favourite thing about the FA Healthcare would be making friends on the course who have similar interests to me, but I would say the placement I got to go on in my second year of the course would be my favourite part of the course by far. This helped me to put the skills and knowledge I learned in my first year into practice.
Were the UHI lecturers supportive? Did their style of teaching feel different from what you were used to at school?
The lecturer I had for this course was very supportive and helpful during my course, taking time out of their day to help me complete work if I was unsure of anything or didn’t understand. The teaching style at college is quite different from what I was used to at school - at college, it is a more independent way of learning.
Have you enjoyed the course overall?
I have really enjoyed doing the FA Healthcare these past two years and will definitely miss it.
Have you learnt anything about yourself whilst being at college? Has your confidence improved?
I have learnt a lot about myself at college, and I would say the FA has helped me to realise that I know a lot more than I think I do and that has helped me to become a more confident person.
Did you make friends from other schools?
I have made multiple really close friends from several schools whilst studying this course and it is good because we all helped each other if we were confused about something.
What are you going on to do after you complete this course?
After completing this course I am either going to further my education at UHI Perth and study the HNC Healthcare Practice or I will be going to university to study Mental Health Nursing.
What knowledge and skills did you gain from the FA Healthcare course that you hope to take with you to any further study?
Communication is very important, that it’s ok to ask for help if you don’t understand something, and to try new things even if you’re unsure about them.
And finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at UHI Perth through the school/college partnership?
The advice I would give to someone who was thinking about study the FA Healthcare would be to do it and to enjoy every second of it. It’s been a great experience studying the FA and I hope many more study it and enjoy it just like I did.
