Celebrating Success: Our Trust Apprentice Completes Her Journey ‘Fully Alive’

Ellen Barnaville explains all about her apprenticeship and why she decided this was the right option for her.

Knowing what to do when you leave sixth form or school can be really difficult. You are continuously surrounded by the pressure of going to university and it seems like the only option to you at the time.

I was in this situation in sixth form. I had applied to go to university to study Sociology with Criminology, however, I knew it wasn’t really for me, but I was unaware of the other opportunities at hand.

It wasn’t until July 2024 that I saw a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship with St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust. Having attended two of the Trust’s schools - St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School and Cardinal Newman Catholic School - I already understood the opportunities and strong foundation it provides. I knew it was a place where I would be supported and able to thrive. Now after completing my apprenticeship and 15 months into the role, I’ve gained valuable experience across multiple areas and have worked with many supportive colleagues who have helped guide me through my apprenticeship journey.

What drew me to this role was the fact that I could learn on the job and gain real, firsthand experience, whilst also earning a salary - something that traditional university study can’t always provide. Therefore, I have been able to gain experience in multiple areas such as business administration, marketing, data handling, HR, and coaching, and these skills have been developed further through tasks such as organising conferences, hosting training sessions, managing different schools’ social media, and supporting our school improvement team.

Alongside the practical work, my apprenticeship included a structured 12-month study programme. Each month, I met with my Development Coach to review my progress, ask questions, and receive new tasks to complete. All coursework was submitted online, with activities contributing to my portfolio as evidence of the skills and knowledge I was building. This monthly structure made the workload manageable and helped me balance studying with my day-to-day responsibilities, keeping everything organised and stress-free!

I loved this learning approach because it was simple and flexible. Being able to complete things at my own pace made it so much more enjoyable, and there was no pressure to hurry, just a smooth process to follow.

At the end of my 12 months of learning and once I had a full portfolio it was time to prepare for my End Point Assessment, containing three parts: a Knowledge Test, a Portfolio-Based Interview and a Presentation. I was able to complete these at any time within 6 months once I felt I was ready. Again, this was perfect for me as it wasn’t a race against time; everything was at my own pace, when I was ready.

This is one of the key reasons why I would recommend apprenticeships for those who don’t want to take the university route or are simply looking to gain a new qualification. The learning process is extremely manageable, especially for those who prefer to learn with firsthand experience, on the job, and in real time. The advice, support, and guidance you will receive is immense and there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t want to help you. In addition, people are aware that you are aiming to build a large portfolio and want to give you work to help you do this. Overall, the support is immense!

The opportunities I have gained from this apprenticeship have been endless, from travelling to different schools, to becoming familiar with a range of platforms useful in many jobs, editing websites, working and being in contact with external stakeholders – the list is endless!

Who knew from a Business Administration Apprenticeship you could gain so much knowledge, skills, and experience in a variety of areas. Before I joined here, I was unaware of the number of areas I would be working in, all contributing to my growing knowledge of the role, and this is still evolving. Every day, I learn something new, and this is what I love about this job; every day is different.

Training Provider:

Ofsted Outstanding Training Provider

Course:

Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship | Remit Training