ANTHONY DUNN CONSTRUCTION

LECTURER, BARNSLEY COLLEGE

How did you get to where you are now?

My role is a T Level lecturer at Barnsley College, and I deliver the technical qualification design, surveying and planning.

I started learning at this college when I was 18. I did a sports science course but went away from education for a while and worked in construction until I eventually came back to university. From that point on, I got into education and then an opportunity to start teaching, and I progressed up the ladder from there. I started studying and developing my technical knowledge around the qualification that I deliver now. It’s been 12 years so far.

MARISSA FERGUSON LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT COACH CO-ORDINATOR, SOUTH BANK COLLEGES

How did you get to where you are now and what made you choose to work in FE?

I studied education studies and, while I always had intentions of being a teacher, I was keen to find a role that allowed me to fulfil more pastoral roles. I started teaching in secondary schools and when this position came up, I went for it. What attracted me most to my current job was the way that pastoral care had been embedded into the students’ curriculum.

What inspires you to work every day?

I genuinely love my job. And I think one of the unique things about my role is getting to see students start in September. They have these ambitions and goals, but they also have a lot of challenges and a lot of life happening that makes achieving those goals a little bit more difficult. Being able to contribute to the process of empowering them and seeing them step into their own leadership and take charge of their journey is just amazing. I get to be a small part of that every day.

What do you admire about your colleagues at the college? What I find really inspiring about teachers is their ability to translate the wealth of information and knowledge that they have into accessible bitesized pieces. It is amazing to see them take their students on a learning journey to develop their skills in a subject or industry as well as their confidence. It’s a transformative experience, and I think our teachers are so skilled at facilitating that transformation.

How

has working in FE transformed your career?

I feel that I’m constantly learning because every week is different in terms of our tasks and the qualifications we deliver – there is a need to constantly adapt. The ETF training around T Levels and other tools are helpful.

In your opinion, what do you think is the real transformative power of education?

The most transformative aspect is that we have a real impact on a student’s life coming into FE. It’s a real defining point and I think it’s probably one of the most influential parts in someone’s life – where they properly have to think about what they want to do and where they want to be in 10 or 15 years’ time. The experience they have will also play a massive part in where they go after college, and that is essentially down to staff.

Thomas Rea

MSET ATS, LECTURER, WALSALL COLLEGE

How did you get to where you are now?

I am a lecturer in business and e-sports at Walsall College. I decided to work in FE because I have wanted to be a teacher since I was at secondary school. From studying business studies at university to becoming a business teacher in a secondary school, I naturally progressed into FE. I haven’t looked back.

How has working in FE transformed your career?

When I started in a secondary school, I was very much under the impression that teaching was a linear approach. You are a teacher; this is your role and this is what you must do. When I moved into FE, I realised that teaching isn’t just about what happens in a classroom; it encompasses everything around it as well. Tools such as the Professional Standards have made me understand that it is not just about my impact in the classroom – it’s about everything else, the whole college and the wider community.

What inspires you to turn up to work every day?

Being able to see, teach the students and watch them progress. Watching that development and witnessing the difference between the beginning and the end of the year makes it all worth it.