Part of the Etc.
Shaun wasn’t always confident about heading off to university after finishing at SRC Bede Sixth Form. Even when he found out he had achieved the grades he needed to study Music Technology at Leeds Beckett University, he still felt nervous about leaving home.
A former student of Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth, Shaun was considering deferring his place for a year until Patrick Jordan, his Music Tech teacher at SRC Bede, gave him a bit of a pep talk and encouraged him that he was more than capable of succeeding at university.
Once Shaun got to Leeds Beckett, he said he found it all a bit “nerve-wracking at first”, especially as he was the only one of his friends to go to that university. However he quickly realised that everyone was in the same boat, and soon started to settle in and make friends, and his new lecturers were really welcoming.
“It’s been daunting doing the stuff your parents normally do”, he said of learning to live away from home, “It’s a big learning curve”. Everything is clicking together quickly though, and Shaun credits SRC Bede Sixth Form with providing him the skills to make the transition to higher education that bit easier.
He’s really enjoying his course and how it has been building on the knowledge he gained studying at Bede, for instance the physics of how sound works.
“It’s not hugely different from being at Bede – the teachers are friendly and encouraging, and have industry experience. It’s a comfortable environment where I can stay and do work after classes, using the studio and equipment as I like. I am actually the only person on my course who already knew how to use the equipment and software when I started, so that has been a great advantage and helped me feel more confident.”
His time as a student ambassador at Bede has also come in handy, as Shaun now represents his university in the same role.
Looking to the future, Shaun is concentrating on working his hardest and maintaining the 1st he has achieved for his work in his first year. He is grasping every experience that he can, including joining the ice hockey team, which he said has made his time at university even more enjoyable. He stressed that it’s really important to have other things to fall back on in your downtime or when you need a break away from your work.
Shaun would say to anyone thinking about studying at Bede (Music Tech in particular), to “seriously consider it – the teachers know what they’re talking about and always want their students to do their best. The environment is really friendly, and because it’s small the teachers can be really supportive. There’s always opportunities for cool extra-curricular work, like recording for a band, that give you a real glimpse into the industry.”
We wish Shaun every success as he continues his university education, and hope to see him again soon.
Are you thinking about studying Music Tech at SRC Bede? Find out more on our website: https://www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/a-levels/music-technology/, or come along to one of our open evenings.
"Bede gave me the confidence to go to university"
A former student of Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth, Shaun was considering deferring his place for a year until Patrick Jordan, his Music Tech teacher at SRC Bede, gave him a bit of a pep talk and encouraged him that he was more than capable of succeeding at university.
Once Shaun got to Leeds Beckett, he said he found it all a bit “nerve-wracking at first”, especially as he was the only one of his friends to go to that university. However he quickly realised that everyone was in the same boat, and soon started to settle in and make friends, and his new lecturers were really welcoming.
“It’s been daunting doing the stuff your parents normally do”, he said of learning to live away from home, “It’s a big learning curve”. Everything is clicking together quickly though, and Shaun credits SRC Bede Sixth Form with providing him the skills to make the transition to higher education that bit easier.
He’s really enjoying his course and how it has been building on the knowledge he gained studying at Bede, for instance the physics of how sound works.
“It’s not hugely different from being at Bede – the teachers are friendly and encouraging, and have industry experience. It’s a comfortable environment where I can stay and do work after classes, using the studio and equipment as I like. I am actually the only person on my course who already knew how to use the equipment and software when I started, so that has been a great advantage and helped me feel more confident.”
His time as a student ambassador at Bede has also come in handy, as Shaun now represents his university in the same role.
Looking to the future, Shaun is concentrating on working his hardest and maintaining the 1st he has achieved for his work in his first year. He is grasping every experience that he can, including joining the ice hockey team, which he said has made his time at university even more enjoyable. He stressed that it’s really important to have other things to fall back on in your downtime or when you need a break away from your work.
Shaun would say to anyone thinking about studying at Bede (Music Tech in particular), to “seriously consider it – the teachers know what they’re talking about and always want their students to do their best. The environment is really friendly, and because it’s small the teachers can be really supportive. There’s always opportunities for cool extra-curricular work, like recording for a band, that give you a real glimpse into the industry.”
We wish Shaun every success as he continues his university education, and hope to see him again soon.
Are you thinking about studying Music Tech at SRC Bede? Find out more on our website: https://www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/a-levels/music-technology/, or come along to one of our open evenings.
