Coleg Cambria student who failed GCSEs now helping protect rare toad species and aiming for conservation career

A student preserved her dream to work with animals and nature after turning her life around at Coleg Cambria. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Teigan Jones was unsure what the future would hold after failing her GCSEs and being told college was not an option for her. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Seven years later she has completed a series of Animal Care and Animal Management programmes and is now researching the habitats of a protected amphibian species on the North Wales coast, as she works toward a career in conservation. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The 23 year-old, from Gronant, was at a crossroads when she decided to apply for an entry-level diploma at Cambria’s Northop site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

But after successfully navigating the course, Teigan continued to improve, attaining numerous qualifications – including a Higher National Diploma (HND) – and will graduate from University later this year on completing a one-year top-up degree. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I had enjoyed Animal Care at school, and that was really the only thing I even considered on leaving,” she said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I took a chance and applied to Coleg Cambria, fully expecting not to get in; when I did, I was ecstatic, and from that point my confidence grew thanks to the amazing lecturers and staff at Northop.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

For her dissertation, Teigan – who cites partner Jonathan and her family as a major reason for the turnaround – is currently studying the behaviours and habitats of the Natterjack toad, a declining species found in sand dunes along the coast near Talacre and Prestatyn. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It has been fascinating and means a lot to me personally as their habitats are right on my doorstep,” she said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is an interesting project as they are under threat, which aligns with my ambition to work with animals and in conservation, to be hands-on in trying to make a difference to the environment.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Teigan, who has been working on the frontline at a supermarket during the pandemic, added: “Without the staff at Northop none of this would have been possible, the understanding and encouragement they gave me was amazing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There was a six-month period where I lost my voice and struggled to speak, and they were so patient and supportive, helping me to improve and believe in myself. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Studying online in lockdown has not been easy for me and other students, but we had each other. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Joining Coleg Cambria Northop was one of the best choices I ever made, and I’ll never forget it.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Sadie Thackaberry, Programme Leader for the HND in Animal Management at Cambria, congratulated Teigan on the perseverance and passion she has shown since joining the college. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“To hear that we have been instrumental in getting Teigan to this point is heartening, but really it is down to her determination to prove she could do it,” she said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“She has grown and grown, and we are sure there is a long and successful career in conservation ahead of her – good luck, Teigan. We are proud of you!” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for more on the wide range of courses available at Coleg Cambria. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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