Tina L.

Retired Education Consultant
Happy to mentor
Happy to be contacted

About me

Tina L.
Mathematics
Mathematics
Undergraduate
Alcuin
1971
United Kingdom

My employment

Retired Education Consultant
Self-employed
United Kingdom
Education
Small business (0-49 employees)
2001
2010

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A day in the life of a Retired Education Consultant in the United Kingdom

Retired education consultant

How I looked for work

Presenting a formal proposal in response to an Invitation to Tender using a range of websites of various Government Agencies involved in similar work

How I found out about the job

Trade journal

The recruitment process

My first piece of consultancy was awarded after an application followed by an interview, where a presentation had to be made to all other applicants as well as programme managers from the agency. Interviews were held in London.

My career goals when I graduated

To complete a Chartered Accountancy Articled Clerkship and Examinations - I thought I'd enjoy accountancy as a mathematician.

My career history

During my studies for the accountancy exams, which I duly passed, I realised that the mathematics side of the course was challenging for my fellow learners and felt I could teach the mathematics to help students on similar courses. Consequently I went into lecturing, completing my Teaching Certificate.

What has helped my career to progress

Being open to all opportunities that presented themselves and fully engaging with whatever work I was doing at any given time.

Courses taken since graduation

Institute of Chartered Accountants - I believe that no learning is ever wasted, even if not followed as a career.
Certificate in Education - a requirement for a lecturer in FE
Various units required for teaching such as D32, 33, 34 - provided access to multiple roles within FE, and with Awarding Body work
IT qualifications - gave me the confidence to author books on IT for publication

How my studies have helped my career

I found that my learning from York (and at school) provided a secure background to my ability to offer my services as an author, teacher and consultant in the learning, development and delivery of the subject

What surprised me about my career so far

How much I have enjoyed it and that my work was felt suitable for use in national programmes and in publishing

Where I hope to be in 5 years

I have retired, but I still have all my resources that I can't quite get rid of! I'd love to see Money Management as an even more important part of an early school curriculum.

My advice to students considering work

Look for the unexpected - don't focus on too narrow a way forward. Sometimes the most surprising opportunities can arise without any warning.

My advice about working in my industry

Keep your maths fresh and able to be called upon - there are few jobs that don't require it in some guise or another.

Contacting me

I'd be happy to answer questions on teaching and learning, as well as employability and finance.

What I do

After a career as a manager and lecturer in Further Education in Literacy and Numeracy, I left College to become a self-employed Education Consultant. Whilst a lecturer I taught and managed Literacy, Numeracy and IT provision in mainstream colleges and within Her Majesty's Prison Service Establishments in the NW. I started my self-employed consultancy as an author of Numeracy learning materials for Heinemann (Pearson) and IT, going on to work on a range of Government Education Initiatives, including Key Skills, Functional Skills, Public Service Diploma and Teacher Training criteria and materials.

Skills I use and how I developed them

Working with a wide range of people in most of the arenas in which I worked, including prisoners, prison officers and Governors, Further Education Staff and Senior Managers, Government Agencies and publishers, as well as Awarding Bodies in a range of certificated courses.

What I like most

Being able to use the expertise I'd learned and developed as a lecturer in different settings to support and help teaching and learning for both students and colleagues.

What I like least

Lots of travel and being away from home...!

What surprised me most

Being complemented on some of my published work by colleagues for whom I had a high regard, considering them as experts in their field.

Next steps...

If you like the look of Tina’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Tina a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Tina to be your mentor.

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