“He’s come out of his shell, from someone who couldn’t really keep eye contact, to completely different now. We couldn’t ask for anymore.”
Courses studied and results: Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (D*DD)
Former school: Cape Cornwall School
What’s next: Hoping to progress onto an apprenticeship in mental health nursing, building on his Health and Social Care course.
Asked to describe Calcifer’s time at Truro and Penwith College, his parent didn’t hesitate.
“He struggled to start with, and they’ve been brilliant, haven’t they? They’ve been really supportive.”
The change they’ve seen in him over the two years since is the heart of the story.
“He’s come out of his shell, from a person who couldn’t really keep eye contact. Now it’s completely different.”
That growth in confidence has been matched, they say, by real academic success, with Calcifer completing his Health and Social Care course with a D*DD, part of another year of results continuing the College’s 30-year legacy of transforming lives across Cornwall.
“You’ve come away with a triple distinction, I think it was, wasn’t it? Amazing. Perfect.”
What stood out most to Calcifer’s parent was how consistently supported the family felt throughout, not just in those early, difficult days.
“Every point, if we needed any help, they’ve been there to help. We’ve had no issues at all. They’ve been on the phone, they’ll get an email, they’ll get back to you.”
It’s a relationship built on trust, and one they’re quick to recommend to other families in the same position.
“Highly recommended, to be honest with you. We couldn’t ask for anymore, that’s my sense.”
Asked if he had anything to add himself, Calcifer kept it simple, echoing his parent’s own words back.
“We’ve had all the support we needed, and more.” – Calcifer
With his results secured, Calcifer’s parent is hopeful he’ll go on to an apprenticeship in mental health nursing, building directly on the course he’s just completed.
“Hopefully an apprenticeship in mental health nursing, that’s probably something more.”
For Calcifer’s family, College has been the place where a difficult start gave way to real confidence, where support was there at every point they needed it, and where two years of Health and Social Care ended in a D*DD and a clear path towards a career in mental health nursing, another story shaped by more than 30 years of Truro and Penwith College helping students, and their families, find their place.
