The Access and Adult Learning team delivers Access to Higher Education Diploma courses to adults and young people in Medway and Thanet. We run evening courses at two partner schools: Brompton Academy in Gillingham and Hartsdown Academy in Margate. We also run an innovative Access course for young people, The University Entrance Diploma, which is an alternative to traditional sixth-form study. When we are able to go out and about we also develop and deliver short courses for adults to encourage them back into formal learning.
Donna Coyte, Access and Adult Learning Manager
How long have you been in the PDO? A long time! Since January 2004, so 17 years. Vanessa Nedderman and I started at the same time and shared a job. She was 0.8 and I was 0.2. The first time we met I said that I was the Mini-Me to her Dr. Evil. Don’t think she’s ever really forgiven me for that.
What is your job? I’m not Vanessa’s Mini-Me anymore! Now I manage the Access and Adult Learning Team which is made up of the adult Access to HE evening course and the University Entrance Diploma that’s run at Medway for 16-19 year olds.
What work do you do with Ambassadors? We recruit Ambassadors for the Adult Learning Mentor role, so I’m involved in the interview process and in preparing Ambassadors for this work. In more normal times, we also use Ambassadors to help us with marketing and recruitment so I often meet Ambassadors at this kind of event, which is really nice. I’m also a Stipend Mentor for three Ambassadors, one of which I taught on the Access course.
What did you do before joining the PDO? I taught English at a further education college in Harrow. I’ve also had other jobs whilst working in the PDO including teaching on the Comparative Literature degree at Kent.
What is your favourite part of the job? Helping students to achieve things that they never thought possible and seeing people develop a love of literature. This is very rewarding work and it really does change people’s lives for the better.
Lucy Frost, Head of Access Programme (UEd)
How long have you been in the PDO? I’ve been part of the PDO for four years now and the time has gone so quickly that I can’t quite believe it’s been that long!
What is your job? I run the University Entrance Diploma and teach English language and literature on the programme.
What work do you do with Ambassadors? Ambassadors work with our UEd students, so you might meet me if you come over to the Medway campus to support our students. I am a Stipend Ambassador mentor, and I can sometimes be found in the office in the Medway building, so when things are back to normal you might encounter me there!
What did you do before joining the PDO? For many years I worked at Mid Kent College teaching English on GCSE, A level and Access to HE courses.
What is your favourite part of the job? I enjoy all of the different elements of my job, but my favourite part is working with students – and getting to teach English! I love being in the classroom and seeing students’ enthusiasm and enjoyment grow, as well as the many different ways in which they develop during their time on our course. I also love the fact that some of our students have gone on to be Stipend Ambassadors, so we get to keep working with them once they move on to study their chosen degree courses at Kent.
Heather Collingwood, Access Tutor
How long have you been in the PDO for? For four years. (Wow! Has it really been that long?)
What is your job? My main role is teaching sociology and cultural studies on the University Entrance Diploma.
What work do you do with Ambassadors? I mentor a few Ambassadors on the Stipend Scheme (you know who you are!). Students on the UEd also regularly benefit from the support of Ambassadors. You may well meet me at the same time.
What did you do before joining the PDO? I worked in further education for thirteen years after graduating from my own degree at Kent.
What is your favourite part of the job? I absolutely love working with young people and teaching them new ways of looking at the world.
Teresa Gibbons, Access Tutor
How long have you been in the PDO? Three years
What is your job? Teaching psychology on the UEd and adult Access courses.
What work do you do with Ambassadors? I mentor three Student Ambassadors that are on the stipend ambassador scheme. I also meet the Ambassadors who monitor and support my students use of the library resources, and when they offer students support with academic skills.
What did you do before joining the PDO? I was a teacher at a local collage for four years. Prior to this I was a student at the University of Kent where I completed a degree in the Social Sciences.
What is your favourite part of the job? Seeing the development of students both academically and personally.
Kelly Clayton, Access Tutor
How long have you been in the PDO? I have worked part time in the PDO for two and a half years.
What is your job? I teach sociology on the University Entrance Diploma and the adult Access programmes at Brompton and Hartsdown Academies.
What work do you do with Ambassadors? I work with Ambassadors to support sociology students in their writing skills and an ambassador working with us would meet me at Brompton or Hartsdown during the evening lessons. This year I have had an Ambassador supporting my sessions at Hartsdown.
What did you do before joining the PDO? I was a Curriculum Manager for the Business department at Mid Kent College.
What is your favourite part of the job? I love nothing more than watching the students progress! It is amazing to see the development of a student over the year on programme – in their writing skills, confidence and ability to think critically. It is so rewarding to be a part of a student’s learning journey.
Lisa Young, Pastoral Tutor for Access
How long have you been in the PDO? Three years
What is your job? Pastoral Tutor for the University Entrance Diploma
What work do you do with Ambassadors/when might an ambassador meet you or hear from you? I often book Ambassadors to help me with UCAS sessions with my students. They will come in and run sessions on the UCAS application process/personal statements etc. All the Ambassadors that have come have been an absolute asset. They are so knowledgeable and the students can relate to them as they’re so close in age and can talk about UCAS applications from recent experience.
What did you do before joining the PDO? I taught childcare at a local college.
What is your favourite part of the job? Helping students realise they can achieve their goal of getting to university and supporting with the process.
Jo Dockwray, Access Tutor
How long have you been in the PDO? Six months.
What is your job? Biology tutor on the University Entrance Diploma
What work do you do with Ambassadors? I haven’t worked with Ambassadors yet (starting this role during lockdown has meant that I’ve not met many people in person!) but would love the opportunity to spend some time with them and think it would be great for them to come and meet my students and help them with their university aspirations. They are always welcome to join me for practical session in the lab when social distancing rules allow!
What did you do before joining the PDO? I worked at the European School of Osteopathy as a Pathology lecturer for five years and prior to that I worked as a doctor at Medway Maritime Hospital.
What is your favourite part of the job? I love the challenge of teaching a new subject. I have always enjoyed helping others learn, which started when I was helping train medical students. I really enjoy seeing the student’s progression, often not only in terms of their academic knowledge but as a person as they develop confidence with the course.
Dave Scott, Access Tutor
How long have you been in the PDO for? I joined the PDO in August 2020.
What is your job? I teach chemistry on the University Entrance Diploma.
What work do you do with Ambassadors? Due to COVID I have yet to work with an Ambassador but look forward to exploring options when things ‘get back to normal’.
What did you do before joining the PDO? I worked at King’s School, Canterbury as a chemistry teacher for 16 years, five of which as Head of Science (research, development and outreach). I have also taught in state schools in London and Canterbury and at an international school in Holland. I have co-authored a number of A level chemistry books.
What is your favourite part of the job? I enjoy teaching my subject, bringing in real world examples of chemistry and biochemistry.
Access to HE Diploma Tutors
The Access to HE evening course is taught by a group of specialist adult learning tutors who have fascinating ‘day jobs’. This means that the team is an exciting mix of interests and experience which enriches the education that we can offer adult learners on the programme.
- Ken Duckett (Politics and Law) is also Quality Manager at our Access Validation Agency (AVA), Laser Learning Awards. Having been an Access student himself, Ken has been teaching Access students since 1998 and developed one of the first remote-learning Access Diploma programmes whilst working at Bromley College in 2012.
- James Cavalier (English Literature) is also an ex-Access student who was one of our most experienced Stipend Ambassadors. Until recently he ran ‘The Paper Stage’, an Early Modern drama reading group designed to explore dramatic texts from a literary rather than performance-based perspective.
- Sam Gayton (Creative Writing) is a successful author and playwright. His novels, written for the middle grade market, include The Snow Merchant, The Last Zoo and His Royal Whiskers which was nominated for The Carnegie Medal.
- Chloe Farahar (Psychology) is a Kent graduate who recently completed her PhD investigating stigma reduction with the neurodiversity narrative. She runs a range of mental health workshops as well as facilitating the University’s Autism Social Group.
- Tom Lawrence (English Literature) is a Kent graduate whose research focuses on medieval literature. He was, until recently, a lecturer in the School of English and a member of the PDO’s training team. He is currently undertaking a PGCE.
- Romi Reis (GCSE Mathematics) is an ex-partner school student who was a Stipend Ambassador and Access classroom assistant when he was an undergraduate. Having achieved his MSc in Mathematics, Romi is currently completing his PGCE at Chatham Grammar.