đ° NEWS & UPDATES
WELCOME TO OUR NEW VCS COHORT
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to the new VCS0226 cohort joining our college community this term.
They arrive from many backgrounds ranging from archaeology to marketing, and we excited to watch you build on your skillset to achieve your qualification and aprrenticeship.
On behalf of all staff and students, welcome to the program. We look forward to seeing you grow, achieve, and make a lasting impact in the field of veterinary care.
Hereâs to an exciting and fulfilling start!
The GVNC Shop is Open!
We are excited to announce that the GVNC Shop is officially open packed with fresh apparel and merchandise featuring our brand-new logo!
- Clothing: Shirts, hoodies, caps, scrub tops and trousers
- Merchandise: Notebooks, shopper bags, laptop sleeves, pencil cases, travel mugs and backpacks
Check out our Instagram highlights from the London Vet Show and BVNA to see some of the items being modelled! Have a browse and shop here!
SVN and VCS badges are now on sale for Charity!
For just ÂŁ2 each you could be the owner of a brand new badge! These badges are a great way to show pride in your role while supporting a vital cause â 100% of proceeds go to VetLife, a charity dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary community. Grab a badge, support your profession, and help make a real difference.
đ IMPORTANT DATES
- VN 0923: Professional Discussion weeks – 20/04/2026 & 27/04/2026
- VN 0424: Unit 4 exam – 22/04/2026
- VN 0924: Unit 4, Section 1 End of section test – 30/04/2026
- VN 0425: Unit 2 Mock Exam – 20/05/2026
- VN 0925 (Tues): End of Unit 2 Section test – 19/05/2026
- VN 0925 (Thurs): End of Unit 2 Section test – 21/05/2026
- VN 0126: Unit 1 interim assignment due – 01/04/2026
- All VCS Cohorts: VCS01 Booklet due in – 25/5/26
â STAR STUDENTS
- VN 0923: Lavonne Wilson – For continued hard work and resilience reflected in recent exam results
- VN 0424: All students for representing GVNC with such professionalism on their recent trip
- VN 0924: The whole cohort – for their hard work towards their unit 3 exam
- VN 0425: Megan Gillard – for her hard work on her NPL
- VN 0925 (Tues) & (Thurs): All students for their hard work and preparation for the recent unit 1 exam
- VN 0126: To the whole cohort for a great start!
- VCS Cohorts: Casey Ahmet, Kimberley Lee and Amelia Woods – for their hard word in the practical’s.
đ LEARNING HIGHLIGHTS
VN0424 Showcase Their Comic Creations
The VN 0424 cohort recently took on the challenge of creating their own comic series using Padlet, all centred around endocrine disorders, as part of their Unit 4 remote session.
With Jesle on hand for technical support, the group powered through and produced some truly outstanding work. Even better, they showed fantastic teamwork and collaboration throughoutâproof that creativity really does thrive, even on remote lessons!
We are hoping these brilliant comics will not only stick in your mind but also help future SVNs make revision a little more fun. Who knew the endocrine system could be this entertaining?
A trip to the Museum
Some of Year 2 L3 Nursing students had the opportunity to attend the RVC Anatomy Museum and the UCL Zoology Museum recently.
This was a fabulous experience for the students to view exhibits related to their current course, but also expand their knowledge of species of species in respect of future career opportunities.
GVNC would like to thank the RVC Museum and the Zoology Museum for accommodating our visit and the experience this provided to the students.
VN0425 Get Hands-On with Eye Anatomy
Our 0425 Veterinary Nursing students recently combined creativity with science by crafting origami eye models to support their learning of ocular anatomy. By carefully constructing the different layers of the eye, students were able to visualise and better understand the complex structures involved.
The activity provided a hands-on way to reinforce theoretical knowledge while also giving students a unique keepsake to remind them of their work and learning.
đ EDI AND WELLBEING
Our New Wellness Space for Students
Weâre excited to introduce our newly revamped Student Room â now rebranded as a Wellness Space.
This space has been designed to give students a calm, welcoming environment to unwind during breaks and lunch, or to use when a moment of reset is needed. The room has been refreshed with lovely plants and uplifting posters, helping to create a more peaceful atmosphere where students can take a step back from busy days.
Inside, youâll find a range of resources to support wellbeing and relaxation, including a book exchange system, colouring books, fidget toys, stress balls, and a selection of essential items. Whether you prefer to sit quietly with a book, get creative, or simply take a breather, thereâs something for everyone. Be sure to check out our âPawsitivity Boardâ, where you can read and share kind, encouraging messages to brighten someoneâs day.
This is a shared space for all students, and we would really appreciate your help in looking after it. Please ensure that items such as stress balls remain in the room so that everyone can continue to enjoy them. We encourage students to bring in a book theyâve enjoyed and swap it for something new, helping to keep the collection fresh. Keeping the space tidy and respectful will help maintain the calm environment weâve created together.
This is just the beginningâwatch this space! Weâre excited to continue developing and enhancing the Wellness Space over time, with ideas and input from students at the heart of it.
If you have suggestions for what youâd like to see added, weâd love to hear them. We hope this space becomes a valued part of your dayâa place where you can relax, recharge, and feel supported.
You are not the only one: Support at GVNC
Starting or continuing your learning at GVNC can feel exciting but also overwhelming at times. If you have ever felt like you are struggling, falling behind, or just not quite âgetting itâ yet, you are not alone.
In fact, many students need a bit of extra support at some point during their learning journey and that is completely normal.
At GVNC, support is there to help you succeed, not to label you or single you out. Itâs simply about finding ways to make learning work better for you.
đ¤ What kind of support is available?
Support can look different for everyone. For example, you might get help with:
- Understanding tricky topics like anatomy or calculations
- Planning and structuring assignments
- Preparing for exams or OSCEs
- Staying organised alongside working in practice
- Building confidence in your skills
Sometimes it is just about having someone explain things in a different way or helping you break things down into manageable steps.
đ§ When should you ask for support?
There is no right time, but here are a few signs it might help:
- You are re-reading things and they are still not sticking
- You feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start
- You are losing confidence in your ability
- You are putting things off because they feel too much
Reaching out early can make a big difference and often prevents things from building up.
Needing support doesnât mean you are not capable.
It means you are learning and that is exactly what you are here to do. For a supportive conversation, contact your Cohort Lead, Personal Tutor or a member of the Additional Learning Support Team below.
âď¸ STUDENT/ALUMNI CORNER
Written by Shanice Williams
I almost gave up on my dream of becoming a veterinary nurse due to not having the right support and guidance in my previous college, but then I was given an opportunity to be enrolled into the Goddard Veterinary Nursing College, Level 3 veterinary nursing course as an external student in April 2023.
I have multiple health conditions that affected me throughout my course, but the support of the team at Goddard Veterinary Nursing College really was outstanding. I felt validated, supported, and encouraged throughout my course.
I was given support at each stage of my course, but when I was getting closer to my professional discussion exam and OSCE examinations my health took a nosedive. I was having seizures that required paramedics, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and fainting spells. The tutors dealt with these situations with compassion and professionalism, which stopped me from feeling embarrassed and ashamed of my medical condition.
I managed my studies by pacing myself, making study plans with lots of breaks, resting when my body tells me and asking for support from college when I felt I needed it. There were times when I felt the pressure and didnât think i could keep pushing through, but I stayed resilient and never gave up.
During the period of my professional discussion, I utilised the question-and-answer document provided by college which helped me practice my knowledge and used the mock EPA to find out the areas where I needed to develop my articulation of that knowledge.
During the build-up to my OSCE practical exam I was provided with all the tasks that may come up and weekly OSCE station prep at college in the skills lab with the tutors, this helped me feel more prepared for the actual exam as well as having a mock OSCE examination at college which other colleges do not provide. College was in also in contact with Lantra throughout the weeks coming up to my OSCEs. They were able to have conversations with them to provide me with the support I needed.
The college staff were able to support me by monthly check inâs, always available on teams/emails to answer questions, provided me with study sheets/booklets, one-one practical sessions and endless amounts of encouragement.
The support from my practice and clinical supervisor was fantastic. I felt being surrounded by other apprentices in the same situation as I helped me feel validated and having monthly tutorials with my clinical supervisor was helpful in guiding me through to completion of my nursing progress log. I would also like to say my fellow class members truly supported and encouraged me throughout my course and vice versa.
The support I received from my college was an enormous reason why I have achieved my goal of becoming a registered veterinary nurse and I will forever be grateful.
My advice to future aspiring veterinary nurses is to never give up even when you feel like you cannot go any further because you never know what you could achieve.
âď¸ SUPPORTING YOU
We are always available and contactable by telephone, e-mail or via Teams. For a confidential chat, contact one of our Safeguarding Officers:
- Emma Eve-Raw | 0204 558 8826
- Claire Digby-Maloney | 0204 558 0584
Or speak to any member of the college team.