Initial training in Earth Sciences and first job with Institute of Geological Sciences London. Taught geology in secondary school for a while, became an Environmental Science tutor in FE during 1975, and stayed in FE as teacher and manager for over 30 years. Principal of Basford Hall College in Nottingham during the early 1990s, came back to Newark & Sherwood College as Principal in January 1995, and retired when the college merged end-2006.
In 1998 Microsoft UK began to use Newark & Sherwood College as a case study site for aspects of what was already then known as the Connected Learning Community concept. Our strategy at Newark was to serve our urban/rural community's needs with a flexible blend of traditional and ILT-based approaches, building a new curriculum model around activities in our 'College Learning Club', and re-engineering our business processes in line with an integrated ICT philosophy – the integration emphasis led us to choose, and keep, the Microsoft platform.
Led by my colleague Jackie Hargis, these ILT-rich flexible learning developments were widely applauded as a response to the challenges of Curriculum 2000. They were featured in a number of case studies, and received two Beacon Awards. But they were ahead of their time, and the sector's move away from FEFC priorities to an OFSTED-driven future prove difficult for us to respond to in ways that could maintain the income we needed for financial stability. In due course I anticipate my writing will chronicle the knock-on difficulties we encountered, including background to a difficult inspection in 2004 (as well as the very successful recovery 2004/6), and the pressure on the college to merge during 2003-2006. Meanwhile, I'm learning to do research ...
First exposed to research through my Masters in Educational Management in 1981, and following retirement from my FE career I now do PhD research through ReMIT, and do work with Microsoft, colleges and others with an interest in promoting e-readiness in FHE. Much enjoyed working with colleagues and colleges in JISC RSC London 2008/9, and now focussing mostly on my own research work.