From Maternity Assistant Practitioner to Successful T Level Health Programme Lead

New College Swindon T Level Health Programme Lead, Karen Beecroft began her career in health at Horton Maternity Unit in Banbury as a Maternity Support Worker, before moving to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford as a Practice Education Maternity Assistant Practitioner. After 20 years in the maternity field, Karen joined the T Level journey at New College Swindon.

In 2019, New College Swindon became one of the first providers of T Levels, which are equivalent to 3 A Levels with a focus on practical study and work placements. T Levels present students with new routes into employment, allowing them to learn practical skills inside and outside of college. Karen says “Students might think they want to be a nurse and think they understand what it involves, but the reality is different. The practical side of T Levels means students get to see what it’s like and make their decisions early.” Some of the students at New College Swindon finish their course to train as a midwife, paramedics, paediatric nurses, psychologists and more.

To stay up-to-date with an ever-evolving industry, Karen keeps in touch with her local hospital and occasionally does a few shifts. This ensures that she’s teaching the students the right things. In addition, Karen has attended various training courses, for example, Infection and Control. New College Swindon offers courses like this to local care homes to fill skill gaps.

In response to what Karen thinks of T Levels, she said “I wish T Levels had been around when I was at school because I would’ve loved it and jumped at the chance to study this practically and realistically. T Levels provide invaluable skills in a safe environment whilst you’re still young, giving students a solid foundation before heading to university or working within the health care sector.”

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