"My name is James Taylor and I am currently in my second year of my course. I am studying a BTEC Level 3 extended Diploma in IT.
I came from Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, formally known as Chiltern Edge, which is located in Sonning Common.
The College is very local to me, and my parents both attended when it was known as Henley Grammar School, so I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
I also choose the College as it is known for its alumni such as Marcus du Sautoy and Alec Hepburn, and also because I wanted independence and the chance to learn on my own and get support from my teachers when and if I needed it.
The College has many quiet working spaces such as the Student Learning Centre, Library, and the Cuthbert Suite. These areas are perfect if you want to go on a work spree, and you can bring your own device to work on, or you can borrow a device from the College.
As I am now in my second year at The Henley College, after spending my first year in Student Leadership, I was able to join the Students' Union. The Union is expected to take concerns and views from students and pass those on to governors and senior leadership. My role is shared by another student, but we work closely with the Student Leadership group.
I also want to mention the support given by the College. First of all, you have a tutor, who is the best person to go to if you are having an issue. They always are happy to talk to you, but you can also email them if they are busy. Student Services is also another pivotal support beam.
Teachers are also there to help if you have a subject-related enquiry as they normally specialise in those areas. Teachers always reply to messages you send on teams or via email and you don’t ever need to stress as they can always explain something again."
