THE AUTHOR

Access to HE Student

Yes, I was indeed an Access to HE student myself! I studied the Access to HE Diploma in Medical Science whilst working nights at a local residential care home for those with dementia. I thoroughly enjoyed the course though I'll admit, I was never fully sure what I was doing...! I read the assignment briefs and got the work done, but I felt very much like I was 'winging it', or in other words, that I was making it up as I went along!

During my diploma, one of my lecturers made a comment that I'd make a good teacher which, though I didn't realise it at the time, ended up being the start of my much bigger Access to HE journey!

After I'd finished my diploma, I went to the University of Liverpool to study Biochemistry. I had initially wanted to study Medicine but the volunteer work experience placement I'd found myself on quickly made me realise that it absolutely was not for me...! I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity for work experience. Better to faint as a volunteer than first day on the job, right?!

Access to HE Lecturer

Whilst I was studying at University, I worked for an incredible company doing a lot of outreach, engagement and science communication. I was very fortunate that my part time job there turned into a full time job after graduation (Friday graduation, Monday office!) but the seed was in my mind about what my former lecturer had said about being a teacher...

When a vacancy came up to teach Access to HE Biology at the very same college I'd once been an Access to HE student at, I couldn't not apply! I know what you're thinking though "hang on, you're not qualified!" and at this stage, you'd be right! Teaching in FE (Further Education e.g., a college) is different to teaching in a secondary school and the training isn't necessarily the same. I was offered the job as a Biology Lecturer (yey!) and I was fortunate to be able to study my PGCE alongside. It was interesting to be a teacher in the day, and a student in the night, but it was enjoyable (though challenging!) and I got it done!

Access to HE Specialist

My professional involvement with Access to HE didn't end with being a lecturer, in fact, that was just the beginning! I proactively became involved with much broader Access to HE projects, and a few years later made a move to open my own independent Access to HE provision: TEACH Online, the only fully online, exclusively STEM-specialist Access to HE provision. From our first academic year we had students enrolled and studying on one of our Access to HE Diplomas, and me and the team successfully waved many students off on their own unique journey.

Being a Founder and Managing Director is a challenging position and working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic raised unique challenges of its own. After re-evaluating what my professional and personal objectives were, I decided to step back from being an MD and gift myself more time. That time, as it would transpire, led to writing!

I'm immensely proud of the opportunities afforded to me from my time running TEACH Online. Some of these include sitting on scrutiny panels for new diplomas, supporting new providers to set up, creating bespoke resources for both students and awarding bodies, and being a member of several committees over the years including my current position as a member of the Access Regulation and Licensing Committee for QAA. I still continue to engage with similar activities now, but as a freelance, independent consultant, and also as a specialist tutor for students studying Access to HE. If you would like to work with me, please get in touch either by emailing theaccesstohehandbook@gmail.com.

Access to HE Author

The idea to write a book about Access to HE came about when I was looking for, and creating resources for my own students. I couldn't help but think that surely many of us as Access to HE professionals were creating the same resources for our learners and that although every diploma is created uniquely, a lot of the core academic content, structure and features of Access to HE must be similar across many, if not all, programmes.

The main problem I found was that a lot of Level 3 (e.g., A-Level) materials were written for a 16-19 year old audience, and many Level 4 (e.g., first year of a degree) were simply too advanced and/or written for students with an assumed level of prior knowledge. There was no resource for a Level 3 student who was an adult, who might perhaps have no prior knowledge, and who might be on the Access to HE Diploma - as around 40,000 of us are every single year! Quite simply, in the absence of such a resource, I decided to write one.

At this point you'd be forgiven in thinking that I am perhaps an already-established writer with publications to my name therefore making the idea of writing a book an easy one, but you'd be wrong! I looked at the academic books I had on my own shelf and saw three books by Ann Gravells that pretty much single-handedly got me through my PGCE! Who published them, I thought? SAGE Publications...

So, at the start of February 2022, armed with nothing more than an idea that I had absolute faith in, I emailed SAGE Publications. The rest, they say, is history!

Some things that aren't Access to HE...!

I tell people that I have "Access to HE" running through my core like a stick of Blackpool rock, and whilst that is very much true, I'm very much aware that having a broader and more diverse experience of education makes me a better practitioner all round. So, believe it or not, there are a few things that I got/get up to that aren't Access to HE related!

I've taught on apprenticeships, functional skills, BTEC, GCSE, and A-Level; I've delivered training, put on events, and been invited to present at conferences; I've worked in private, public and voluntary sectors; I've also worked in higher education - in and around my work with Access to HE, I currently work as an academic at The Open University too!

In my spare time (if you can believe that I have any!), I enjoy going to the gym and watching Formula 1. I also am a proud cat-mum - of course I've saved the best fact for last!

Work With Me

Whenever possible, I love to take on collaborative opportunities by offering freelance services for Access to HE based projects. For example, you might want my input on writing materials or assignments, an extra person to support quality assurance processes, or even a chat about how to get started delivering Access to HE! Whatever your project/activity looks like, get in touch via email and let's talk!

I also offer tuition for Access to HE students. For more info, email using the address below.