Tilly’s Journey…
For many young people, traditional school environments can feel overwhelming. For Tilly, anxiety and health challenges made mainstream education incredibly difficult. Her journey to rediscovering her confidence in learning is a powerful example of how the right support, at the right time, can change a young person’s life.
Before Joining National Online School
From an early age, Tilly found school challenging. Social situations caused huge amounts of anxiety, often leading her to avoid lessons altogether. Panic attacks meant she would frequently leave classrooms, and overtime Tilly became socially withdrawn.
As her mental and physical health needs grew, Tilly was taken out of mainstream education. She spent six years in hospital, where she received specialist education alongside vital mental health support. Despite these challenges, Tilly showed extraordinary resilience, achieving six GCSEs during her time in hospital.
At 19, when she was ready to take her next step, Tilly enrolled at the National Online School (NOS) Post-16 provision, NOS College, to continue her education in an environment that felt safe and manageable.
Tilly’s Time at National Online School
When Tilly first joined NOS, engaging in lessons was still daunting. She often joined classes from a darkened room, with her hood up and her face hidden, unsure if she could fully participate.
Through specialist support and a tailored therapeutic curriculum, our teams worked patiently with Tilly. Firstly, we took time to understand her needs, her triggers, and what feelings arise throughout her school day, offering strategies and therapeutic support to manage one feeling at a time. Over time, she began to feel more comfortable, gradually engaging more within lessons and with her peers.
Online learning provided Tilly with something she hadn’t felt in a long time, confidence and hope. The flexibility of NOS and true understanding of her needs allowed her to rebuild trust in education at her own pace. Tilly continued her studies with our school for two years, growing in confidence with every step.
Looking Ahead
Tilly graduated from NOS College with two A-Levels, an incredible achievement that reflects both her determination and outcomes for students, when their need are considered first.
With a passion for animals, especially her two lovely guinea pigs, Tilly has now returned to mainstream education to study Level 2 Animal Care. She is thriving on the course and approaching her future with positivity and ambition!
Empowered by her own experience, Tilly has recently been appointed an Alumni Mentor for the NOS, where she will support and mentor other students that may be in similar situations that she once was.
Her story is a powerful reminder that with compassion, understanding, and the right educational environment, young people can rediscover their confidence and move forward positively.
