Former South Staffordshire College Student Realised Dream

From the age of 8, former South Staffordshire College student Lucy Wood had dreams of working for the BBC. Now she has come full circle from her days as a student at the College, working up the ranks of the BBC before returning as a volunteer at her old school Saxon Hills School teaching College students.

Lucy believes that her time at South Staffordshire College was a great way to bridge the gap between school and the world of work. “From the age of 3 to 17, I had been at Saxon Hill, a school for students with disabilities and had little experience of being a learner in a mainstream environment.” 

She studied NCFE Using Video at the College’s Lichfield Campus and on completing the course was nominated for NCFE Student of the Year reaching the regional finals. “I was very honoured to be put forward, considering I’d never picked up a camera before this course.”

Lucy continued to study for a National Diploma Moving Image course at College and a Higher National Diploma now known as the Foundation degree, in Film and Television Production. She was then offered a six month paid placement on the BBC Extend Scheme as Production Management Assistant.  Following this, she went on to work for BBC Radio West Midlands.

Today Lucy has returned to where she started, as Volunteer Coordinator at Saxon Hill School, responsible for overseeing the inclusion of the public and students at the school and helping College lecturers develop a volunteer programme involving South Staffordshire College students.

Chris Hopkins, who is Art and Media Curriculum Manager at South Staffordshire College, taught Lucy and said her work at the BBC has made the College proud and her enthusiasm for the media and entertainment industry has helped her to achieve so much. “From her beginnings as a student with no media background, through her time at the BBC and now as a volunteer coordinator at Saxon Hill, she has shown current students the quality of her skills and we look forward to working with Lucy promoting further opportunities for our learners in the media and volunteer sector.”

Lucy said the staff and lecturers at the College played a significant role in helping her access the same opportunities as her classmates. “It is my hope that all students realise their capabilities and recognise that hard work can give you the momentum to go onto big things.”

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