I joined North Kent College two years ago as a Senior Instructor, and at the start of my second year I stepped into the Practitioner role while working towards my Level 5 teaching qualification, which I’m proud to say I achieved that same year. Now, at the beginning of my third year, I’ve taken on a new challenge as a Lecturer.
Before coming into teaching, I worked in a plastic injection moulding factory, mainly doing repairs and maintenance, and over the years I’ve built up a wide range of hands-on industry experience. Alongside that, I’ve also done some coaching at a local boxing club, which is really where I discovered how much I enjoy helping others learn and develop their skills.
That experience is what pushed me to move into teaching, I wanted to give something back, to share what I’ve learned over the years and hopefully inspire others to build successful careers of their own. The transition from industry to education was a big change, but I’ve had great support from colleagues and mentors at the College. The teamwork and encouragement here have made all the difference.
Gaining my Level 5 teaching qualification has really helped me grow in confidence and improve the way I plan and deliver lessons. It’s given me a better understanding of how different learners work and how to make my sessions more engaging and practical.
What I enjoy most is seeing learners develop, that moment when something clicks and they start to take pride in their work is really rewarding. North Kent College has been a brilliant place to start my teaching journey. There’s a real sense of support, plenty of opportunities to keep developing, and a shared goal of helping learners succeed.