Dedication to learning earns recognition for Heather

13th August 2014 5:00pm - Return to press releases

Hard-working mum and student Heather McNulty has been commended for her commitment to learning by the organisers of Adult Learners’ Week.
Heather, 34, from Bridlington, received a certificate of achievement following her nomination by East Riding College tutor Bronia Davis.

She said: “I am thrilled with the award and glad I can inspire people. With hard work and determination, I have proved that anything is possible; you just have to put the work in and believe in yourself.
“Receiving this award makes me very proud of how far I have come and I cannot thank Bronia and my other tutors enough for recognising the hard work and effort I have put in and for nominating me.”

Having achieved a level three qualification in beauty therapy in 2012, Heather decided she wanted to qualify as a tutor and enrolled on the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) course.
The course, in which she completed several assignments and some “micro-teaching”, gave her a taste for the work and she then enrolled on the two-year Certificate in Education course.
On completion of the first year, she enquired about doing an assessor’s qualification – to enable her to check learners’ competence at tasks in work – as she would need that as well to secure a teaching job.
Despite the additional workload, she enrolled on an Assessor Award and then increased it to a more demanding Assessor Certificate, to ensure she would be employable to teach and assess all types of beauty therapy qualifications.
Heather attended College one night per week on the Certificate in Education course and was a voluntary tutor every Friday.
Alongside this, Heather not only taught but also assessed the learners with the Friday group, she also travelled to the Beverley site by bus and train to assess the NVQ learners there, all while working nights with adults with learning difficulties and being heavily pregnant.

After completing the Certificate in Education in the summer of 2013, she took some time out to have her baby and then carried on with her Assessor Certificate and completed it in the November, six months ahead of target.
Even then, Heather was keen to continue learning and is now studying towards a BA in Education and Professional Development.

Learning and development tutor Bronia Davis nominated Heather for an Adult Learners’ Week Award  because of her dedication to learning.
She said: “Heather’s professional approach and enthusiasm have been inspirational to the learners she has helped and continues to work with.
“I believe that she is living proof that through each qualification she has achieved, she has gained more confidence in her ability to succeed.”

East Riding College is now taking applications for courses starting in September. For more information and to browse courses, go to www.eastridingcollege.ac.uk

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Notes to editors

For more information about this press release, call Matthew Croshaw, marketing and communications manager, on 01482 390720 or email [email protected]