Principals from the College of West Anglia (CWA) and King’s Lynn Academy (KLA), and Deputy Chief Nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), met to inspire the future generation of nurses last week.

Year ten pupils from KLA have begun their first year of a brand-new two-year Health and Social Care (Pathway to Nursing) course at CWA. The pupils study at the college one afternoon per week and at the end of the two years gain a qualification.

Many students, who are currently on the new course, intend to follow on to further study in Health and Social Care at the college before moving on to university or a higher apprenticeship to fulfil their career goals of becoming registered nurses.

KLA students pictured on the front row with back row from L to R: CWA Careers & Destinations Manager Ann Compton, QEH Deputy Chief Nurse Edmund Tabay, CWA Principal David Pomfret, KLA Principal Alan Fletcher and KLA Head of Year 10 Amy Barrett.

Year 10 KLA student, Jasmine de Sousa Veiga hopes to train to become a paediatric nurse. She said:

“My grandparents died of cancer and it made me want to help care for other people in the future. I want to go on to further study at CWA and then to university to specialise to become a paediatric nurse.”

Another KLA student, Summa Bygrave, said:

“I am really enjoying the course and studying in an adult environment at the college. I am continuously inspired by my mum, who is currently training in adult nursing. I want to become a mental health nurse to help people and give everyone another chance at living happy lives.”

Edmund Tabay pictured with KLA students, Jasmine de Sousa Veiga (left) and Summa Bygrave (right)

Deputy Chief Nurse at the QEH, Edmund Tabay, said:

“It was truly inspiring to meet the KLA learners and hear about their future career aspirations. The fact that they can live and train locally in order to reach their career goals is fantastic.”

CWA Principal, David Pomfret, said:

“We are delighted to be able to open up this brand-new course offering to KLA learners. Not only is it fantastic for them to learn new skills, but the collaboration between KLA, CWA and the QEH will enable us to offer year ten learners a locally-taught and clear education pathway to becoming registered nurses, firstly through the new course offering, further study on a level 3 qualification at CWA, and finally, a higher apprenticeship through our most recently announced Government funding for a new CWA School of Nursing, set to begin in 2021.” 

The partnership between CWA and KLA has continued into other curriculum areas, with 71 KLA learners currently studying on courses at CWA in areas including Motor Vehicle, Health and Beauty, Engineering and Childcare.

From L to R: KLA students, James Lanham and Snow White, pictured with Alan Fletcher and David Pomfret

KLA Principal, Alan Fletcher, said:

“The strong partnership we have forged between KLA and CWA has had an extremely positive impact upon our learners. Not only are they able to develop new practical and academic skills within their chosen subject, but it gives them the opportunity to broaden their horizons and progress onto further study at the college, and eventually, successful careers within the health and social care sectors.”