Name

Julie Woodley

Job Title

I am a lecturer in Business and Admin and NVQ assessor

What did you do before you came to Newcastle College?

The job I performed before coming to Newcastle College was working as PA to a Consultant Surgeon at the Freeman Hospital where I gained my background in business and admin. I also worked part time through a teaching agency lecturing at South Tyneside College in business and admin.

What's the best thing about working for Newcastle College?

The most rewarding aspect of this post is seeing students coming to college with little confidence or even trust in the education sector and gaining a qualification. I have just got a student who has completed her customer service NVQ and has special needs (difficulty in writing and grammar etc) but with support from staff and encouragement from her colleagues she has remained motivated, positive and indeed done very well in completing her course and was absolutely thrilled. I also teach GNVQ intermediate business to those students who may not have done well at school with their GCSEs but have come to college, formed an excellent team, all getting to know each other well and helped each other. Not only do they get a qualification but form friendships and become part of an inspirational community. It is a pleasure to watch relationships forming and there is a real sense of team work. The overall reward of course is seeing students achieve their aims.

How does your previous experience help you teach the students on your course?

As mentioned, I have always worked in roles in business and admin and have done for 20 years. I was a lot like the students who come to college today, partaking in a full time administration course at the age of 16-17 which enabled me to get my first foot on the employment ladder. Of course, in order to progress, I had to keep up to date with qualifications such as typing, management courses, post grad certificate in information management etc. I always attended courses in addition to working as this gave me an all round fund of knowledge, both practical and theoretical - not to mention it allowed me to have the money to spend too! By working in roles such as a typist, then a junior secretary and working my way up to a senior secretary/PA, it give me the inclination to go into teaching as I felt I knew a lot about this line of work and wanted to pass on my knowledge and skills to others.

Tell me an interesting fact about yourself

An interesting work related fact? Perhaps not that interesting but, I loathed school and severely lacked confidence. As I started to learn more and attend college, my confidence grew with my knowledge but it never conquered my fear of public speaking. I had to will myself to overcome this factor and so joined a teaching course. My first "micro-teach" was a total disaster even though I had prepared for weeks before hand. I was so nervous I couldn't speak and froze (this didn't help as it was being recorded also). Needless to say, I gave up my course (and vocation) which was probably the worst thing I had ever done. I was only in my mid 20s at that point and thought I would never become a teacher. Years later I decided to try it again and although I was still nervous, I took to it like a duck to water and what started with a simple teaching course, turned into a degree in education and training, and this brings me here today. Never say never!

What would you say to a student thinking of applying to Newcastle College?

Newcastle College is vibrant multi cultural learning environment packed with opportunities for students, whatever their age. Through staff development days where I have been allowed to visit departments and learn about the services they offer, I am amazed at what is on offer to students. This is not just in the form of educational support but also socially and financially. Students come to college perhaps not knowing many people but they never seem to leave that way! It takes time to settle in and of course nerves and fear may play a part when enrolling on a course but students overcome this and obtain worthwhile qualifications and leave college with new doors to open. If students think that showing commitment to a programme and learning all the time is not important to potential employers, think again.

What's been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight of my career so far is, as I am new, actually reaching this point. It has taken me 4 years to study and do my degree, get some part time experience and I think being chosen for a position with a college of this size and scale has been my highlight so far. I learned that getting qualifications, no matter what level, does count for something, of course, the beginning or first qualification, is just the foundation for which to build on.