Three Gloucestershire College students are off to elite nanny school, cheap Norland College, pill this September, salve after successfully achieving their Diplomas for the Children and Young People’s Workforce at Gloucestershire College.
17-year-old Maddie MacKenzie from Cheltenham and Megan Mozol from Gloucester, along with 19-year-old Sophie Coles from Chipping Norton, will study for their BA(Hons) in Early Years Development and Learning with the Norland Diploma, at the prestigious Bath-based institution which supplies childcare to the rich, famous and royal, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The focus of a 2014 ITV documentary, Britain’s Poshest Nannies, Norland College is world famous and celebrated not only for its high standard of training, but also the iconic uniforms of its students, which include brown hats, white gloves and flat-heeled brown brogues.
The three GC students attended an Open Day last year at Norland College and, after a one-to-one interview, delivering a presentation to their peers and completing a written exercise, were successfully accepted on to the course.
The three-year degree will see Maddie, Megan and Sophie benefit from a blend of lectures and placements, with modules including lifesaving, self-defence, advanced driving skills and domestic science. The girls will study the Norland Diploma alongside, which will gain them the title of ‘Norlander’ or ‘Norland Nanny’ upon successful completion and make them highly sought after childcare professionals.
Megan said: “I have found my course hard work but my time at Gloucestershire College fun and worthwhile. Last year my placement was at a nursery and this year, a primary school. My dream is to become a nanny and my course at Gloucestershire College has allowed me to gain so much experience working with children.”
Early Years Lecturer, Michelle Harris, said: “The Gloucestershire College Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce has a high level of placement, which is invaluable as students are required put theory into practice.
“The self -discipline that has been needed to complete their work on time on this extended diploma has been tough – but has given the girls a good start to life in the higher education sector. I’m excited for this new chapter in their lives and future careers.
“Norland College has been around for 139 years and follows a Frobel approach to learning, which sets the mark for highly qualified nannies throughout the world. At present, Prince George’s nanny is a Norland-trained nanny.”