skip to main content
Close
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Applicants
South West College logo
  • SWC
  • Find a course
    • Courses A-Z
    • School Leaver (16-18)
    • Higher Education
    • 14-16 Provision
    • Adult Learners (19+)
    • Parents & Carers
    • Employers
    • Subject Areas
    • International Programmes
    •  
    • Apprenticeships
    • Skills for Life
    • Traineeships
    • Mentor Connect
    •  
    • Higher Level Apprenticeships
    • I want to be a HLA
    • I want to employ a HLA
    • Course Help
    • How to Apply/Enrol
    • Course Fees
    • Qualifications Explained
    •  
    • Social Inclusion
    • Going Places
    • College Connect
    • SUSE+
    • Sectoral Employability Academies
    This image (Swc 061221 057) is a link that points to the Download a Prospectus page
    View All Prospectuses

    Need Help Applying for a course?

    Contact admissions@swc.ac.uk and a member of our admissions team will get back to you
    How to Apply
    • Student Support
    • Careers Guidance
    • Career Builder
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Learning Support
    • Carers
    • Student Finance
    • Student Handbook
    •  
    •  
    • Student Life
    • Meet Our Students
    • Term Dates
    • Events
    • Way Out West
    • Turing Scheme
    •  
    • Digital Learning
    This image (Swc 061221 057) is a link that points to the Student Handbook page

    Student Handbook

    Download

    Funding Support for Students

    As a student there are a several funding opportunities you can apply to for help with your course related costs.
    More Info
    • Explore Our Campuses
    • Erne Campus
    • Dungannon
    • Omagh
    • Cookstown
    • Technology & Skills
    • Automotive Centre
    • The Workhouse
    •  
    • Enterprise Action Hub
    • Business Services
    • Skill Up
    • Skills Focus and InnovateUs
    • Innovation Vouchers
    • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
    •  
    • Community
    • Recruitment
    • News
    • Corporate
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
    • Financial Statements
    • College Development Plan 21/22
    • Sustainability
    • Privacy & Data Protection
    • Governance
    • Publication Scheme
    Play video This image (Collage made up of three photos depicting students engaged in photography, art, and IT.) is a link that points to the About page
  • Contact
  • Your List
  • SWC
      • Courses A-Z
      • School Leaver (16-18)
      • Higher Education
      • 14-16 Provision
      • Adult Learners (19+)
      • Parents & Carers
      • Employers
      • Subject Areas
      • International Programmes
      • Apprenticeships
      • Skills for Life
      • Traineeships
      • Mentor Connect
      • Higher Level Apprenticeships
      • I want to be a HLA
      • I want to employ a HLA
      • Course Help
      • How to Apply/Enrol
      • Course Fees
      • Qualifications Explained
      • Social Inclusion
      • Going Places
      • College Connect
      • SUSE+
      • Sectoral Employability Academies
      • Student Support
      • Careers Guidance
      • Career Builder
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Learning Support
      • Carers
      • Student Finance
      • Student Handbook
      • Student Life
      • Meet Our Students
      • Term Dates
      • Events
      • Way Out West
      • Turing Scheme
    • Digital Learning
      • Explore Our Campuses
      • Erne Campus
      • Dungannon
      • Omagh
      • Cookstown
      • Technology & Skills
      • Automotive Centre
      • The Workhouse
      • Business Services
      • Skill Up
      • Skills Focus and InnovateUs
      • Innovation Vouchers
      • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
    • Community
    • Recruitment
    • News
      • Corporate
      • Policies & Procedures
      • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
      • Financial Statements
      • College Development Plan 21/22
      • Sustainability
      • Privacy & Data Protection
      • Governance
      • Publication Scheme
    • Enterprise Action Hub
  • Contact
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Applicants

Ruth turns College Course into a Lifelong Ambition

Ruth Johnston, a mum of three, returned to education as a mature student at South West College (SWC) in June 2012. Hoping to pursue a future career in childcare, Ruth enrolled on a two-year vocational BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children’s Care Learning and Development. This course offers individuals a vocational pathway aligning with the knowledge and skills that employers seek and allowed Ruth to pursue her studies close to her home in Ballynakelly, Coalisland. Fast forward to 2021, and after her studies and despite the worldwide pandemic, Ruth is ready to embark on her next venture as a registered childminder.  

 

Ruth’s course provided a flexible approach to learning, combining a wide range of theory teaching with practical experience gained by working part-time within a local primary school. Ruth adapted well to this style and flourished at SWC.  

 

Ruth said: “During my two years as a student in SWC the Lecturers were extremely supportive and encouraged me to achieve my potential.  I enjoyed the course, and it gave me the confidence and self-belief that I lacked while I was at school.” 

 

Ruth’s decision to re-engage with education helped aid her career progression. When she finished her studies, she found employment as a Learning Support Worker at South West College, a post she held for over seven years. Ruth said: “During this time, I supported many students, and it gives me great joy to see them achieving their qualification and progressing to further or higher education or employment.”   

 

Ruth remained passionate about enriching children’s lives and decided to pursue her ambition to become a childminder in late 2019. Of course, things changed in 2020, when the pandemic meant that childminding as a career was hit hard, with many childminders unable to remain open.  

 

Ruth said, “The past year has been a challenging one, and it has brought many changes, not all of which have been positive. I became registered as a Childminder in December 2019. It was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but unfortunately, due to the Pandemic, my childminding business did not get off the ground, so I had to suspend my registration.” 
 

Despite the Pandemic, however, Ruth persevered and now she is ready to open her childminding business. She said: “Thankfully, I have been contacted in recent weeks by two families and will hopefully have four children starting in February.  I look forward to caring for these children, contributing to their holistic development and providing an enriching learning experience for them. I will be sad to leave SWC, but it has been a great journey, and I feel privileged to have been both a student and an employee here.’ 

For more information and advice on further education, higher education and apprenticeship options, explore the SWC Virtual Open Days this February. Higher Education and Higher-Level Apprenticeship events: 8-10 February, 5:30pm-6:30pm. Further Education and Apprenticeship events: 22-24 February, 5:30pm-6:30pm. To register for these virtual events, please visit: www. swc.ac.uk 

Share

Subscribe
for all stuff Way Out West

graphics-top-left-blue
graphics-top-right-yellow

Footer

Quick Links
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Track Your Application
  • Vacancies
  • Download a Prospectus
  • Download Our App
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Procedures
  • Term Dates
  • Status of Key Services
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • SWC YouTube
  • SWC LinkedIn
  • SWC Instagram
  • SWC Facebook
  • SWC Twitter
Tel: 028 8225 0109
AccessAble Department for the Economy
Payments powered by WorldPay
Payments powered by WorldPay
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
South West College © 2023
Green17 - Web design Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
South West College © 2023 Green17 - Web design Belfast, Northern Ireland