Katie Lydia Haines

From the classroom to the maternity ward

For 18-year-old Katie Lydia Haines, becoming a midwife has always been the goal. After achieving a Merit in her T Level at Leicester College, she is now preparing to take the next step towards her dream career by studying Midwifery at De Montfort University.

Turning an ambition into experience

Katie knew she wanted to become a midwife, so when deciding what to study after school, she wanted a course that would give her practical experience alongside her academic studies.

“I’ve always wanted to be a midwife, and I thought this course would be better suited to me than A Levels because of the hands-on experience. I wanted to get an insight into what the job is actually going to be like.”

After Katie’s mum discovered the course online while researching post-school options, Leicester College quickly stood out.

“It was best suited to me in terms of location and travel, but I also really liked the ward settings they had for the practical lessons.”

Bringing learning to life

Throughout the course, Katie studied a range of subjects, including biology, while developing practical skills that prepared her for working in healthcare.

“We had exams at the end of each year and different blocks covering different subjects. There was a really good balance between theory and practical work, and actually a lot more practical learning than I expected.”

The practical approach helped Katie build her confidence and confirmed that midwifery was the right career for her.

“You get so much hands-on experience. It helps you solidify that this is definitely what you want to do because you get an understanding of what you’re going into.”

Experiencing maternity care first-hand

A standout moment for Katie was securing a placement on a maternity ward at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The placement was offered through a college scheme, with students completing an interview process to secure a place.

“Working on the maternity ward was such a different experience and I’m really grateful for it. I was able to experience maternity care first-hand and work with lots of different people in different situations.”

During each shift, Katie was paired with different members of the maternity team, allowing her to experience a variety of roles and responsibilities.

“Sometimes I would be with a maternity care assistant, sometimes a nursery nurse or a housekeeper. I would go around with them, help with their tasks and learn from what they were doing.

“Even just being able to observe everything was amazing. Seeing so many different situations helped me understand how people respond and what needs to be done in different circumstances.”

The experience gave Katie an insight into the realities of working in maternity care and further strengthened her ambition to become a midwife.

Support when it mattered

Katie also valued the support she received from Leicester College throughout her studies, particularly when she faced challenges outside of college.

“I definitely felt well supported throughout my time at Leicester College. When I had things going on at home, they were really there for me.”

For anyone considering studying at Leicester College, Katie encourages them to remain determined even when their course becomes challenging.

“Don’t give up when things get hard. Keep pushing because it’s all worth it in the end.”

Taking the next step towards midwifery

Following her Merit, Katie will begin studying Midwifery at De Montfort University in September.

“I definitely want to qualify and work as a midwife. I think university will help me decide which specific area I’d like to go into, but I’m particularly interested in specialising in teenage pregnancy.”