Learning Coach Review

Supporting staff across a range of projects, some long term and some shorter. Developing practice, sharing innovation and inspiration. I am leading on quality improvement strategy and the internal assessment and quality assurance of a number of academic programmes. I need to build and sustain relationships with staff and stakeholders and also liaise with managers, leads and members of the sesnior leadership team. The job is generally rewarding but can sometimes be frustrating. The global pandemic was / is a big challenge!

A good mixture of both really. New coaching skills and assessing qualifications. Developed my already well established planning and delivery skills. I now know how to more effectively plan for internal quality assurance and how to design curriculum and drive desired behaviours across a large organisation. I have been able to learn a lot from others and have been lucky to work with a number of approachable, positive and focused people who all work to enhance the learner experience at the college.

Really enjoy it. The difficulty level is pitched just right and there is a good variety of tasks and assessments. I like using One File and find the system intuitive and accessible. It is good to see work get ticked off and the visible progress through each unit and / or task. I enjoy working with others of a similar mindset working to get the job done. I also think the range of topics keeps me interested.

Induction was really easy and I was really well supported by my tutor. She showed me how to work with one file and how I could build on my existing skills to make this part of the assignment pretty straight forward. I am kept regularly up to date with the requirements of the qualification and can talk to my tutor at anytime through email or during a face to face tutorial. I am really pleased with this aspect of the programme, as it would have been very off putting if this hadn't all been in place.

I am really pleased with the amount of support I received from my employer. They really encouraged me to do the qualification and have allowed me the time and space to work to my hardest on each aspect. They appreciate that I need to balance it with my general workload and have also been very understanding when I have had delays due to childcare because of COVID-19. My tutor is really supportive, as is my line manager and I am really confident that I will be able to finish the qualification on time and will be able to instantly put it to good use in such a forward thinking organisation.

As above my training provider is essentially the same as my organisation as I’m working in house on the qualification. I get signposted to all the right resource is through one file, and I'm supported financially with any books I need to buy. I feel that the training provider is well equipped to handle my needs and has always supported me each step of the way. It is really rewarding to work with both the organisation and the training provider on a scheme like this and I would certainly look to do more apprenticeships in the future.

The qualification has really helped me in a particular area of my role. Prior to achieving or studying for the qualification I had had initial experience in internal quality assurance but had never read deeply into the theory. By learning more about how to do it properly I have become more effective and more useful to the organisation. It has also made me more interested in how I can train others on this and build my new knowledge into my existing training programmes for other learners. It has benefited me enormously initially and I'm looking forward to embedding it even further into my practise in the future.

Yes there are many opportunities for extracurricular activity. There are sports teams, at gym and many societies that meet digitally and in real life. We have a central communication platform in which these are made available and people can book on. There is a bias towards sport but there is also things like singing and musical Theatre. There is an active social scene in terms of exercise and pastoral support. These are heavily linked to the local community.

Yes

I think the organisation is value driven and the people within it are all working to help others. There is strong leadership across the board and there are opportunities to progress provided you know exactly what it is that you want to progress in. The people are welcoming and look after new recruits and there is a well thought through induction process that ensures nobody slips through the cracks. The work is challenging and the sector is underfunded but it is a hugely rewarding role and I would really recommend other people getting involved in further education and particularly the Lincoln college group.

I would advise others to really emphasise your previous experience in a vocational or academic area. The sector requires people of both types. They need experienced teachers but also people with long careers in industry. If you are in the latter category you will be well supported to become a teacher. You should look up for every opportunity that arises and be flexible in terms of what you might want to do and in which way. The college will always listen to you in terms of your working pattern.