ISLAND LIFE
being with people, and helping them
to move on, so I took the huge risk
of giving up my job, and took up
teaching at 25.”
Since then Debbie has taught in
five colleges, starting at St Helens
in Lancashire, and then Essex,
Cambridge regional college and
Braintree before moving to the Island
in January 2004.
Having felt she was not testing
herself enough in previous
employments, Debbie soon realised
the IW College was the challenge she
had been seeking. She reflected: “I
was lucky when I came here because
I followed Bill Grady, who had been
Principal for two years. Before that
the college had been in quite a terrible
state, and even when I arrived there
were probably more problems than I
had anticipated. But in the October
before I arrived they had had a good
inspection under Bill’s leadership.
“However, there were still many
issues because the college had just
come out of recovery. But I knew they
were never going to advertise a post
that was all fabulous so I expected
it. The college had come through an
inspection that said it was all right for
two years, so for me it was wobbly,
and could easily have gone backwards
again.”
Debbie’s softly-softly approach soon
began to help the recovery process.
She said: “As a northerner I find
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that if you are hard-working and
transparent, then people will follow in
an appropriate way.”
Students at the IW College are
primarily 16 to when you ‘drop off the
peg’. But there is also a school liaison
programme where 14 to 16 year olds
attend from their schools a couple of
days a week.
“College is a continuation of many
people’s education. Depending on
how well a student has done at school
gives them access at a certain level.
But there is a place for all levels of
students, and we offer places for
those with learning difficulties and
disabilities, which I am very proud of,”
Debbie explained.
It is never too late. We have access
students who are older learners
returning to study; who want to
change their lives. I am passionate
about those students because they have
been like me and taken longer, or have
had families, and don’t see how they
can return.
“The older you get, if you don’t stay
in learning the more fear you develop,
so when I meet the access students
each year I share a little bit of me and
they like that because it gives them
hope, and I think my job is about
giving people hope.”
In terms of subjects at the IW
College, there are 15 sector skills areas
and they are divided into many layers
– so in terms of subjects around 120
are on offer, including the full range of
AS and A levels and degrees.
There are about 350 support and
teaching staff, and there is no problem
recruiting. Debbie says: “I believe
the Island attracts people because it
is lazy day sailing; everyone’s picture
postcard. So I don’t believe it is too
difficult to attrac t people. I do worry
there may not be enough employment
for families here but we have had no
problem recruiting.
“We recruit in a terrier-like way; we
don’t give in, it is all about tenacity,
and we would never put someone
in front of a class unless they are
perfectly qualified in their trade.”
She added: “When I arrived I felt
the college was crying out for stability,
and if I had been asked how long it
would take I would have said maybe
five years. I believe I still provide that
stability, and as an organisation we are
reliable and solid. For the last 10 years
the results have got better, and that
feels good.
“The thing I find in this job is that
there are never two days the same. I
am fidgety and that is good for me –
my whole life is a fast pace. I get bored
easily, so I need to keep me motivated,
and every year I challenge myself
‘should I still be here’? At the moment
the answer is yes. I am still excited by
the place, and the day I am not will be
the time to go, and I genuinely will.”