NewquayJacob,
Well done. That is a very good move. I did about 18 months as an ATCA in 1975/76, during which time I learnt a great deal which came in useful later on. NATS had stopped recruiting back then, so I left and did a degree in Geology/Geography. I started as a direct-entrant ATCO Cadet 2 months after my finals, but all the flight-planning and basic stuff was still in there.