From Classroom to Delivery Room: A Teacher’s Journey into Midwifery

Helen Cookson, 35, is training as a midwife through our midwifery degree apprenticeship at East Lancashire Hospital Trust. Formerly a primary school teacher, she switched careers for a more practical route into midwifery.

Helen is currently undertaking our Registered Midwifery Degree Apprenticeship BSc. Employed by the East Lancashire Hospital Trust, she is fulfilling her ambition of becoming a fully qualified midwife while balancing work and study. Initially, Helen pursued a career in primary school teaching, specialising in Biology, but after 13 years, she decided to follow her passion for maternity care. As a homeowner relying on a single income, the traditional university route was not a feasible option, so she began working as a Maternity Support Worker to gain hands-on experience, hoping an apprenticeship opportunity would arise. “I always had a passion for midwifery but needed a route that was financially viable for me,” she says.

Helen discovered the apprenticeship through a colleague who promoted the programme internally. She attended an online Q&A session, applied for the apprenticeship, and successfully secured a place after an interview process. The apprenticeship offers a blend of academic learning and real-world experience, including 16 hours per week of university study, 21.5 hours per week of placement shifts, and 4-6 week rotations across different areas of maternity care. Helen’s responsibilities include supporting pregnant women and their families, conducting maternal observations and fetal monitoring, taking blood, facilitating births, performing neonatal assessments, and conducting postnatal visits.

Helen Cookson 3

"Every day is a new learning experience, and I love the hands-on aspect of my training. I have already delivered 7 babies!"

— Helen Cookson - Registered Midwifery Apprenticeship BSc

Helen values the structure of the apprenticeship, which allows her to apply theory to practice weekly. She appreciates her small cohort of nine students from four hospital trusts across the North West, enabling rich discussions and shared learning. At our university, she benefits from expert midwifery lecturers, comprehensive library services, and clinical skills training areas.

However, balancing work, study, and shift patterns is demanding, and she has had to develop strong organisational skills to manage her responsibilities effectively. “It can be tough balancing shift work with academic deadlines, but with good time management, it’s definitely achievable,” she explains. Despite the challenges, she finds the experience rewarding and is grateful for the support from both the university and her employer.

Once qualified, Helen is eager to work as a midwife across different areas of maternity care, gaining a broad range of experience to further her career. She advises aspiring apprentices to ensure they meet entry requirements, gain relevant work experience if needed, be prepared for hard work and administrative responsibilities, and stay organised to balance studies and shift work. “If you’re passionate about midwifery and willing to put in the effort, the apprenticeship is an amazing opportunity,” she says. Helen’s journey demonstrates how our degree apprenticeships provide a structured and financially viable route into midwifery, helping dedicated individuals achieve their dream careers.