Your Journey, Your Way: The Alternative Route
Stewart’s journey was not straightforward. After completing his NC in Early Education and Childcare, a negative placement experience caused him to lose confidence and question his career choice. He took a year out to work full-time in a fast-food restaurant.
It was his continued scouting role, working with children, that reaffirmed his passion. When he decided to return, the HN qualification offered the perfect environment to regain his footing.
“Personally, it provided an alternative route to get to my dream of working in education,” Stewart states.
He chose the HN path because Fife College had a clear degree pathway with Queen Margaret University. This approach gave him the qualification, the confidence, and a clear route to where he wanted to go. The journey was about more than just academics; it was about building confidence and self-belief in his knowledge and skills.
Hands-on Learning, Real-World Skills
The practical nature of the HN courses directly prepared Stewart for his future roles. He highlights the regular coursework where students had to create a resource or develop an area in the classroom.
“This piece of work benefitted and prepared us for the current job because in nursery it is the practitioner’s responsibility to develop different areas… and think creatively to entice the children into the area”.
This hands-on learning helped him think outside the box and put into perspective how to run a classroom effectively, which is essential for his goal of becoming a primary teacher. The HN route also provided opportunities for learning through nursery and primary placements, giving him perspectives from practitioners, teachers, and senior roles.
Key skills he developed include communication and problem-solving—finding new solutions and ways to help children learn.
A Passport to University Success
Stewart’s greatest career achievement so far directly connects to his HN qualification: receiving a place at The University of Edinburgh to continue his study to become a primary teacher.
The HN route provided a strong baseline of learning and fundamentals he could build on at a higher level. This established knowledge, combined with placement experiences and further reading, helped him craft a strong application and demonstrate his knowledge and understanding in interviews.
Stewart believes the HN qualification contributes significantly to the Scottish education landscape by providing students an opportunity to gain more knowledge and a bigger understanding of their career ahead.
“Following the HN route has provided me opportunities to work in a vast variety of jobs in childcare, early education and teaching”.
A Century of Confidence and Competence
Stewart’s story is an inspiring message that HN qualifications are essential for shaping Scotland’s workforce and provide viable alternative routes to success.
His most important advice to future students is simple: “Believe in yourself and your ability and do not let anyone take that away”.
In reflecting on his journey, Stewart sums up the power of the Higher National:
“My journey has not been easy to get where I am now, but having the Higher National qualifications has provided me with the confidence, a wider understanding and the ability to complete any job in education with competence.
