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Return To Learning
Better
Yourself
Access Diplomas were established in the late 1970’s as an alternative route to A Levels for university application. Their aim was to provide opportunity for more mature students to access higher education. Return to Learning believe that they are continuing that widening participation agenda by offering this life changing qualification on a fully distance learning basis.
Return to Learning was founded by Samantha McLean in 2018 and incorporated in 2022. Having taught Access to HE Diplomas in the Further Education sector since 1998, she felt that there was a need to offer this qualification via a more flexible method of delivery.
Return to Learning currently offer 8 diplomas across a number of curriculum areas and are constantly seeking new opportunities to expand access that will facilitate progression. As a result, we work collaboratively with many universities including the University of Cambridge; Nottingham University; The University of Bristol; Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Sheffield. Of the latter Samantha McLean is an Alumni Member having graduated from there in 1998.
Samantha McLean’s lecturing career spans 27 years and, during that time, she has worked in both further and higher education. Her academic career began when she, herself, completed an Access to Higher Education Diploma in 1994 and saw just how vital the qualification is to fundamental career change and personal development. She has facilitated 100’s of students to achieve progression to university via Access to HE diplomas and has a tangible passion for this life-changing qualification. She is also a subject specialist moderator working with over 10 colleges providing support and guidance on learner engagement and compliance. Over the last two years she has branched out further and is also an Assessor for the Association of Commonwealth Universities. In addition and, to maximise her ability to support students, she is due to graduate in Counselling and Psychotherapy practice.
She attributes her determination and success to the amazing support of her 4 daughters, her love of the Derbyshire countryside and wonderful friends, four paw and two legged!