Scott Farmer HNC Childhood Practice

Scott Farmer explains how college can be a perfect stepping stone from school to university.

My name is Scott Farmer, I’m 17 and I stay in Mid Calder. I left school after completing my 5th year and I am currently an HNC Childhood Practice student at West Lothian College. I was a bit worried about whether I was going to get the correct results I needed to get onto the course. Thankfully I did and I began studying at the College in August 2018.

I want to be a primary school teacher and for me HNC Childhood Practice seems like a logical way to take the first steps toward that goal. Being a primary school teacher really appeals to me because the idea of being a positive influence and making a difference to someone’s life is so rewarding.

This has been my goal since S3 so I have had a lot of time to think about how I am going to achieve it. I really feel that college is the way to go as the qualifications are broken down to HNC and HND rather than a degree so there are points where I can pause and take a year out or gain work experience between qualifications. College is a really handy stepping stone between school and university or employment. I don’t know if people actually realise how significant it can be in making the jump from school to university more manageable, I think College offers the best of both worlds. You are treated like an adult but there is still support there when you need it.

This idea that Childcare isn’t a traditional male vocation had no influence on my decision. In fact, if anything, it encouraged me because when I spoke to people at careers fairs at school and told them my end goal was to be a primary teacher, everyone was really supportive due to the lack of men in primary teaching at the time.

I’m really enjoying the course even though we are now getting into the nitty gritty with assignments coming thick and fast along with portfolio preparation for placement. However, the thing is when you love what you are doing it doesn’t seem like work!

To apply visit: HNC Childhood Practice at West Lothian College