Creative degree course is a real family affair

A MUM and daughter are truly keeping things in the family by becoming university classmates.

Helen and Kate Corner are putting the age gap aside and have both enrolled on the same course - a foundation degree in creative industries.

The study partners are familiar faces at University College Winchester's outpost in Chute House, Church Street, Basingstoke, where the course runs.

And Miss Corner, 21, who is balancing the degree with her job as a buying executive for a door-to-door sales company, is now getting used to sitting down to homework sessions with her mum - instead of the usual cup of tea.

She said: "Initially, it was quite strange because you don't expect to do a degree with your mum, but now it's really helpful to have someone there who's going through the same things as you."

When she has finished her degree, Miss Corner is hoping to train as a teacher.

Mrs Corner, 45, has taken leave from her job as a manager with the Blackwater Valley Primary Care Trust to focus on the course and get work experience.

She had not originally planned to start the course, but went along to the open day to accompany her daughter.

"I went along to support her, but I'd been looking for something as I already go to drama school on Saturdays. I thought it was great, so we both enrolled together," said Mrs Corner, who lives in Camberley with her daughter.

"Neither of us work in the creative industry, so we can explore that side through the course, and it's really underlining what I do at the weekend.

"I'm doing some work-based learning at the Haymarket in Basingstoke, where I'm shadowing the theatre manager, going to rehearsals and seeing how a provincial theatre is run."

For details of courses at Chute House, call 0870 3578500 or log on to www.wkac.ac.uk

First published: Monday, March 14, 2005