It was only when she heard the citation read at the regional award ceremony that T Level student Maddie Dunkley realised that she had worked twice as hard for her success.
She was enjoying the work so much, she didn’t realise that she was doing extra.
Not only did she pass her T Level with flying colours, but she also got a full-time job and is now through to the national Apprenticeship and Skills Awards to be held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on November 26.
She joined the Health T Levels course at MidKent College after completing her GCSEs and BTec qualifications at Holmesdale School in Snodland. She said: “I went to college to apply for Level 3 BTec but they said why not try a T Level. I didn’t even know what that was but they told me you get a 9-week work placement, so I said I’ll definitely give that a go. I was looking forward to that.
”The course was so much more relaxed than school. Coming to college did me the world of good. The grade boundaries were high and everyone there wanted to do well and it created friendships because we had so much in common.”
Maddie describes herself as a job-hopper. During her course she volunteered as a paediatric physio assistant, helped with the sessions at a charity, Step and Learning, along with work at Diggerland, Sports Direct, and Rochester Castle. In her 2nd year of her T Levels, she had her work placement, at Maidstone hospital orthopaedics who offered her a job at the end of her time there. During that time, another health recruitment company asked her to help with therapy for a 14-year-old which she did for an hour a week.
Her course tutor and line manager at MidKent College put her forward for the regional Apprenticeships and Skills Awards. It was a long application process and there were so many good applicants for 2025, the organisers held semi-finals for which Maddie had to write a biography. At the event, Maddie describes her category being announced.
“They did a little speech about the winner. I had been involved in an 8-week project about communication, how it affects patients, and the NHS and we presented it to staff at hospital. When they mentioned that on the stage, I thought ‘that might be me’. They mentioned I’d done double the amount of placement hours, because I’d done the therapy as well. I wondered why I was tired! When they said my name, it was a huge shock, and my dad had to tell me you have to go on stage.”
Eighteen-year-old Maddie Dunkley from Strood works as a Respiratory Therapy assistant at MCH (Medway Community Health) in Medway.
“I help clinicians with pulmonary rehabilitation which is rehab for patients with COPD and other lung conditions. I carry out home visits to check their oxygen levels, do admin, booking patients. I absolutely love it – I didn’t realise how much of a dream job it is. They are hoping to put me on the degree apprenticeship.”
Nabil Mugharbel, Director of the T Level curriculum at MidKent College said: “We are so proud of Maddie, one of our amazing T Level Health students. Maddie’s hard work, commitment and passion have truly paid off, and she will now go forward to the National Awards. I encouraged her to be nominated and she won – bless her. This achievement also shines a light on the potential of all our incredible T Level students, as well as the support and encouragement they receive from their dedicated tutors here at MidKent College.”
The National Finals are held on 26th November with dinner and presentations at the Royal Lancaster Hotel London, with ITV’s Ben Shepherd as the presenter.
