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Maisie Webber

Ever since she was a little girl, Maisie Webber has wanted to be a police officer. The former Hele’s School pupil joined the College straight from school after finding the Level 3 Diploma in Public Services more appealing than A Levels – a course that perfectly complemented her involvement with the local Police Cadets.

Four years later and having completed both a Diploma and a Foundation Degree in Community and Public Services Management, Maisie has now been accepted onto the British Transport Police Recruit Training Programme, and will be moving to London in February to begin her training. In the meantime, Maisie intends to continue with her top-up year which will gain her a full BSc. 

About her time at City College, Maisie said: “I have had an amazing time at City College. When I started the diploma, I hadn’t really considered doing a degree, but I’ve loved every minute.  The Foundation Degree was fascinating and has been really useful for helping me to prepare for the police application process. We do a lot of competency-based training as part of the course and this has really raised my confidence.”

Whilst the Foundation Degree has helped Maisie to secure a job with the police, Maisie said it’s relevant for anyone intending to have a career in one of the many public services. Maisie said: “I think everyone doing the top-up year has a different career goal: we have one joining the prison service, another who wants to be a train driver. It covers so much: it’s not just about the different services, it’s about how societies work and interact.”

When asked what the course covers, Maisie replied: “We do law and criminal justice; psychology and sociology; we look at politics, public administration and how democracy works at different levels. We look at things such as public health and the economy – pretty much anything to do with how a society works is covered by this course – it’s fascinating.” 

Maisie said that studying for a degree at the College meant she and her course mates were enjoying the best of both worlds. Maisie explained: “We have access to the facilities at the University of Plymouth, but we get to study in a smaller, more homely environment where everyone is heard. A big part of both the Foundation Degree and the BSc is learning how to engage with a variety of people. We get to enjoy talks from different guest speakers, and we’re encouraged to engage with them as much as possible; being part of a smaller group means everyone has the chance to speak. 

“The staff are exceptional: they are experts in this field, and the support you receive is second-to-none.”