Aiming high with the Met | The first group of Access to HE Diploma in Policing learners accomplish success

We are pleased to share that our first ever Access to HE Diploma in Policing group have recently completed the course with City & Islington College, with learners going on to higher education or full time employment as a result.

The qualification was designed through a collaboration between OCN London’s Access to HE team and The Metropolitan Police in 2021 and provides learners with a viable option to access a meaningful career with the UK’s largest police service. It also ensures that the Met has increased access to a diverse pool of talented individuals who may otherwise have not had the opportunity via the traditional route.

Graham Urry, Lecturer in Forensic Science at City & Islington College led on the delivery of the diploma and was delighted to see his learners progress after completing the programme in early Summer.

It was a privilege to be both the senior lecturer and tutor on the first ever Access to Policing Course. It was clear from the start of the course that a lot of hard work had gone into designing a course that aligned students directly towards the Police Degree Apprenticeship, further study at university and careers within the criminal justice sector. The close collaboration between the Metropolitan Police and OCN London resulted in a program of learning that was industry specific and over a twelve-month period, I saw my students develop an extensive knowledge base around key theories on policing, criminal law and social science. In addition, I witnessed their personal skills develop in key areas such as communication, public speaking, problem solving and decision making. For anyone interested in policing who lacks the necessary qualifications I would recommend this course as part of your pathway into a rewarding and exciting profession

If you are interested in delivering our Access to HE Diploma in Policing, or would like more information about our Access to HE courses, please contact Michelle Wood at michelle@ocnlondon.org.uk