Coventry Dual Student/Teacher Urges Others To Upskill

A Coventry mum who is combining a dual student and teacher role at the city’s leading further education provider is urging others who are considering up skilling or a career change to follow in her footsteps.

Carrie Rose, 37, joined Coventry College as a support worker for young people with special educational needs (SEND) four years ago after a number of years bringing up her four children and after gaining her Level 3 Teaching and Education qualification at the College in just 12 weeks is now teaching 16-to-18-year-old SEND pupils a range of skillsets to prepare them for employment and later life.

Carrie is now preparing to undergo a two-year Level 5 Teaching and Education course at the College alongside her teaching role to realise her ambitions of becoming a full-time teacher.

She said: “I arrived at the College four years ago with some historical teaching experience and qualifications, but after being a full-time mum for so long I needed a helping hand in resurrecting my career, and Coventry College has shown great faith in helping me.

“The Level 3 course that I have just completed was really insightful into the world of teaching particularly ways in which to keep a classroom of young people engaged, which can be one of the most challenging parts of the job regardless of the subject that’s being taught.

“One of the key takeaways from the course that will stick with me is to distract students as soon as they enter the classroom to give them something to talk about this could be as simple as having the news on.

“Now I have my Level 3 qualification under my belt I feel like I am well on my way to becoming a fully qualified teacher, and more importantly, prepared for teaching in a modern-day teaching environment.

“If there’s anybody out there who is looking to take a first step into teaching, I’d say go for it!”

Ben Hetherton is the course leader of Coventry College’s Teaching and Education courses.

He added: “As we have seen with Carrie, our Level 3 and 5 courses are not only ideal for those wishing to begin a teaching career, but they are also essential for existing education professionals needing to update their qualifications and skillsets.

“The pandemic has prompted many people to rethink their careers, and teaching is one area that people are turning to, and our courses provide a solid foundation for those individuals to begin their teaching careers.”