Single mum, 24, is one of the country’s top IT students

By Julie Armstrong

Last updated 05:32, Friday, 12 September 2008

A SINGLE mum from Carlisle is among the top 1.7 per cent of computing students in the country.

Rachel Murray: ‘I don’t have the time or energy for a social life. You’ve just got to think about what you’re doing it for’

Rachel Murray, 24, of Holywell Crescent, Botcherby, had to quit her A-levels at William Howard School, Brampton, when she fell pregnant at 18.

Now she is one of just 36 students nationally to be awarded the top mark in the Applied ICT AS double award.

Rachel said: “I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I was five months gone, it was really scary. My whole life was put on hold, I felt like I’d wasted it.

“Chloe’s worth it though – she’s six now – and I’ve got Scott, who’s three. With this course as well, I can’t believe I did so well. I’ve just done things a bit back to front.

“I was never that good at school. When you’re there you’re too busy thinking about what you’re going to do that night and what you’re going to wear. It’s not until you get older that you realise.

“I was a bit apprehensive about going back to college when most of the others there were 16. I felt a bit old but we had a good laugh.”

Rachel has found it difficult to fit everything into her busy life, but she is not letting time constraints stand in her way and intends to go to university after another year of her course at Carlisle College.

“The kids enjoy going to nursery and after-school club so that helps, but it’s hard to do homework at night when I’ve to keep an eye on them and feed them and bathe them,” she said. “I don’t have the time or energy for a social life. You’ve just got to think about what you’re doing it for.

“I want to become a primary school teacher, specialising in IT.”

She said her mum and dad – an IT technician at her college – are very proud of what she has achieved.

“They’ve been brilliant, as have my tutors – they let me have time off – no questions asked – when Chloe was ill.”

In just the fourth year Carlisle College has run the Information and Communications Technology course, it has awarded AA to EE grades to 95 per cent of candidates, compared with the national 75 per cent pass rate.

Tutor Judy Bloxham said: “Results have got better year on year and this time have been outstanding.

“But we’ve never had a student get a double A grade on the course before. Rachel works very hard.”

To contact Carlisle College call 01228 822703.