Year 13 student, Mason, joined UTC Swindon in year 10 because of his interest in engineering, and will be leaving this summer to follow his dream of joining the Army.
Mason said: “In August, I will be joining the Royal Armoured Corps. I have considered different career paths but this was the one constant throughout. I also have some family that were in the forces and I think I am well suited to it.”
“To be selected to join the army, I had to do a series of tests. After applying online, I went along to a careers centre to talk about my options. I then went to the assessment day and had a weekend of physical tests, team building and exams. The final stage is the interview; this is where you find out if you have been successful for the roles you had selected. I was so happy when they came back to say I could pretty much go for all the roles I had applied for.”
“I joined UTC Swindon in Year 10 and then stayed on in the sixth form. I liked the engineering courses offered, and after looking around, I had made my decision. I’m really pleased I made that choice; I don’t think I would have achieved the GCSEs I did anywhere else. The smaller class sizes help a lot because the learning is tailored more to your individual needs.”
“There is also a lot of support and guidance on your career path. I already knew I wanted to join the army, but if I didn’t, I know I would have been supported with other routes. Coming to UTC Swindon has definitely helped me prepare for my next steps after education.”
We wish Mason the best of luck and a bright future ahead.