Alex
I took a year out after finishing school to decide what I wanted to do next. During that time I moved to Bedford from London and the idea of working with animals started to develop.
I visited Shuttleworth College on an Open Day and I couldn’t believe that they had 400 different species all on one campus! Having grown up in London, this wasn’t something that I’d ever seen. I became very interested in the psychology of animals, why they behave the way they do, and I knew that this was the subject for me.
Since studying at Shuttleworth, the new biome has opened in the Zoological Education Centre. This houses the reptiles and amphibians and has made a real difference to the student experience. We are assigned to different zones in the biome to carry out daily management tasks.
I really enjoy the unit on animal behaviour and how animals show different behaviours in different social groupings. I’ve also been able to apply this knowledge on my work experience placements on a farm, at a kennels and a vet practice.
The tutors are all very helpful, but the environment is more independent than school, so it prepares you well for university.
I am going to Winchester University in September to study Animal Welfare & Society and have been classed as one of their ‘High Flyer’ applicants. The tutors keep us on top of our university applications with tailored support and push us to get the grades we need.
Eventually I would like to work in an area of animal behaviour, such as training therapy animals.
