Why did you choose Reigate College?
I liked the feel of the campus and the wide range of courses and felt it would be good preparation for university.
How did you decide which subjects to study?
I’ve always loved History and so was certain on that from the beginning, but I hadn’t considered Sociology and Politics until I came to the open evening. I chose both these subjects because I was inspired by the teachers and students that I spoke to at the College.
How did you find the move from school to College?
I came to the College with quite a few friends from my old school, which made the transition easier. Everyone was very welcoming when I arrived, as everyone’s new, so I found it very easy to make friends in my classes.
What have you enjoyed most about your courses?
History is my favourite subject. I love learning about the Cold War in particular. I also really enjoyed completing my History coursework which was on the Tudors, a period not covered in my course, so I enjoyed a nice change.
How have you found the teaching and support staff?
My teachers have always been very supportive. I’ve found that at College, there is more of an equal relationship between students and teachers.
Tell us about any College activities you’ve been involved in outside lessons
As well as playing for the College Netball Team. I’ve also really enjoyed completing my Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. My favourite part of DofE was our hike in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, as I was able to spend all my time with my DofE friends.
The main DofE expedition was very challenging. I quickly had to learn how to look after not just myself but friends in my group too. If one person starts to feel unwell or gets very tired, the whole group has to adapt to ensure the situation doesn’t get worse.
As a part of the DofE expedition, we had to set ourselves a challenge to complete whilst on the hike, so we decided to learn some Welsh. This immediately made us connect with our surroundings more, as we learnt to describe our locations in Welsh. Many of the places we walked through had name that were descriptions of the landscape, for instance “Ben y Bryn” means “the top of the hill”.
Along with learning map skills and how to take bearings, we also got to learn more about the culture of the places we were in. We met lots of locals who were always very happy to point us in the right direction if we got confused!
What do you like most about being a student at Reigate College?
I like the wide range of opportunities we’re exposed to. We’re given information on different work experience and apprenticeship programmes through a weekly Careers Bulletin. We’re also encouraged to join as many extra-curricular activities as we can, most of which are offered during the College day.
What do you think makes Reigate College a good place to be a student?
It’s very student focused; there are lots of opportunities and clubs for students to get involved in; it’s also well run. Lots of my friends are a part of the Student Union and Student Mentoring teams, and help organise activities to ensure the smooth transition of people moving from their old schools.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to study History, preferably at Birmingham, possibly with a year abroad or a placement year. I also plan to go travelling this summer and in uni holidays.
Eleanor, 2022
