sem newsletter september 2012

September 2012

School of English & Maths

Newsletter

Welcome to a new term at Hull College. I hope you enjoy our student stories about being

in the School of English and Maths. They are inspirational to us all. I wish you every success

this year.

If you’d like to be interviewed or contribute to the next edition,

please contact me on [email protected] or just ask your

tutor.

H Kitson

Helen Kitson

“I’ve learnt to read and write in the last 4 years.” Sylvia Thurloe describes how support for her dyslexia has changed her life.

Sylvia has just completed the final year of her Honours Degree in 3 Dimensional Design Craft and has also been a student in our Dyslexia Support Workshop. Her final project was an eight thousand word essay, yet four years ago when she was first signposted for a dyslexia assessment she found she had a reading age of six. With support from her tutors, Sylvia has “learnt to read and write in the last four years”. She hopes that by doing this interview, she will help others who may be feeling as frustrated as she had been before finding the Dyslexia team. Sylvia is now very confident and has a clear direction of what she wants to achieve in the future. The days of isolation are now far behind her.


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Support

Sylvia’s key messages Sylvia’s key message to tutors is to be aware and to clearly direct people to the help they need. “The best thing is the way the tutors have accepted how I wanted to work rather than the way they wanted me to work. People don’t ask us how we feel. People with dyslexia have to work six times harder than most people to get to the same place. It’s so frustrating. I used to get angry with people all the time. The worst thing is being interrupted when you’re reading because you have to start back at the beginning.

I think this is where these youngsters get their anger from. A bomb just goes off in our heads.” Sylvia has made use of Dragon speech- to-writing software and her tinted glasses stop words “dancing around the page.” She also uses Dictaphones and makes great use of computers. “My tutors don’t proof-read for me, we work together off a memory stick and I’ve stopped skipping paragraphs when I read.

My copywriting was so slow I could only manage 3 letters at a time. Now I can

type and talk online with hardly a hitch, whereas before I had to check every

word.”


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Avoidance strategies

Like many students with dyslexia, Sylvia had to learn to survive at school, which often felt

like a hostile environment.

One of her skills was her ability to remember everything verbally. “I had a tape recorder in

my head and I could just throw a switch and remember everything, not so good when you

could remember every word of an argument! That’s gone now and my reading’s taken

over.

”The dreaded “D” hat

At first Sylvia’s inability to read or write didn’t matter as everyone started at the same pace

in Primary School. Her problems began at the end of the second year when she first

encountered the ‘D’ hat. This hat was used a lot and upset Sylvia as it was also used for the

children who had been naughty. “It made you feel as if you had done something very

wrong and this is when I made myself ‘invisible’ to others.” Sylvia became very quiet, never

voicing her opinions or answering questions, until the teachers seemed to forget her.

“I ran rings round the teachers”

As Sylvia went through school she found that she was able to run rings around most

teachers if they needed work handing in. “My main trick was to walk out of the class,

saying that my work was on their desk. When asked for it again, I would say that they had

it and must have lost it. If they questioned this, my response would be to complain about

how unfair it was that they expected me to do it all again as it was their fault and not

mine.”

Success!


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Isolated and bullied

By junior school she had become isolated and by senior school she was being bullied both

physically and mentally.

She became interested in art and cookery and found that these teachers were more

interested in her talents. Maths was another area that Sylvia enjoyed but could only answer

the mental arithmetic questions so failed the exam as she was unable to read the

questions.

Sylvia left school with no qualifications.

Success at last!

Sylvia had lost her confidence and could not read or write anything other than her name

and address. She felt incredibly frustrated as she grew older because she was unable to do

the things that most people took for granted.

At the age of thirty two, Sylvia returned to college to try various short courses, mainly

creative. Finally, a few years ago, Sylvia decided to try for a Foundation Degree and

discovered the help that she was entitled to have. Dyslexia support arrived and it was such

a relief.

Sylvia says that ‘life is now a passion’ and that she would like this opportunity to thank

everyone involved.


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GCSE English and Maths now free to adults from SeptemberGCSE English and Maths now free to adults from SeptemberGCSE English and Maths now free to adults from September

This is great news from the Government that will give students and staff of all ages a free chance to achieve the Gold Standard of GCSE English and Maths.

Here are some stories from our 2011/2012 students striving to get the magic A* to C grades to ensure the future they want in education and employment.

Ashley and Grant need Cs for their apprenticeships in mechanics, and Grant is hoping for an interview with BMW, dependent on that vital C grade. He told me, “It’s easier to understand here than at school”.

Ashley re-sat his Maths with us in November and got a C, and now is working hard for C in English.

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Viola (pictured right in her GCSE Maths class), came this year as an under 16, after being home-schooled.

She’s now aiming for her GCSE to go on to university to study architecture.

Viola is combining the GCSE with time at one of our partner schools, and a Diploma in Art and Design at Park Street. She likes the pace of the class, as she’s covering in one year a syllabus that would take two years in school. She gets extra support by attending a Maths workshop, an offer open to all our GCSE students.

Sophie is now on her third attempt at a C in GCSE English, which she needs for A Levels. “I’m doing pretty well now. I like the new course assessment. It’s easier because you don’t keep getting work back but you can get it over with and no-one can say they forgot to do their coursework.”


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Matthew is 35 and has worked for sixteen years as a mental health care worker.

“I wasn’t one for studying at school, my grades were rubbish. I just wasn’t interested but now I’m older and wiser I want to learn and push myself. I’m building up my qualifications to be able to go to university and become a speech therapist. I’d never written an essay in my life until this course but I’m doing fine. I’ll be over the moon if I get a C. Kristina is brilliant and feeds back every single time what I’m doing wrong.”

Not everyone is doing GCSE to forward their careers. Richard (pictured) has progressed with us through Numeracy qualifications to GCSE Maths. He wants to help his daughter, who’s doing GCSEs at school.

Richard too praises the good standard of teaching.

Joanne is from Kurdistan and has been in England for eight years. She’s completing her ESOL Level 2 qualification, and needs a C in English to go on to A Levels and university.

She finds the staff “very good, very friendly”.


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Joanne, 36, started in Hull College over two years ago and has progressed through English

and Maths workshops to GCSE English and Maths.

Diagnosed with dyslexia soon after she started at College, Joanne has struggled with

memorising formulae and mixing up numbers, but has developed strategies to help her

cope. “My flat’s full of post-it notes: indices, tangents, square roots, algebra, they’re all over

my fridge, in the freezer, on my bathroom mirror, everywhere!”

Joanne has a no-nonsense approach to learning and likes the way her tutors are, “upfront

and honest. I don’t like people tiptoeing around. I want to know where I’m going wrong.

Cath’s the best maths teacher ever. I keep her busy asking for homework all the time.”

Joanne has a dual purpose in brushing up her maths and English. She wants to have her

own catering business, and to help her son at school. He’s also doing GCSEs this summer.

“He’s had lots of problems: epilepsy, deafness, and as a baby I was told he’d never walk or

talk. Now he’s doing GCSEs this year at school and doing well.”

Determination clearly runs in the family. Joanne failed all her exams at school 18 years

ago. She was labelled as “lazy”, which is quite common for students with dyslexia. Now

she is proud of her success in learning and how it is, “making me trusting, positive, I’m

coming out of my shell.”

Joanne Evans

GCSE English and MathsGCSE English and MathsGCSE English and Maths


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At 42, Andrew’s had an interesting work history, driving taxis, HGVs, being a DJ,

and a marketing manager in the entertainment industry.

In his last job, where he was promoted to Business Development Manager, he

started running into problems with his maths skills. “I was so bad at maths I

couldn’t do the sums in front of the customers, so had to go away and arrange a

second appointment.”

This experience, a redundancy, and Andrew’s decision to try for university to do a

degree in Business and Information Technology, pushed him into returning to

learning maths at College. “I’d done nothing since school. I was classed as

remedial because of the maths. It was daunting at first coming here but to be

honest I’ve found it brilliant. Not just in the maths classroom but in the

workshops and drop-ins I come to for extra help.”

Andrew’s next challenge will be to return from his brother’s stag do in Madrid at

midnight and pass his maths exam the next morning! “I’ll be fine. I’ve been

cramming it in since before Easter. I’ll just stay focused throughout.”

Andrew Beadle

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Photo: Andrew and

Joanne with their

tutor, Cath Edwards


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Andrew Thorne

Andrew is a 38 year-old GCSE English student who is also on a Pathway course at Hull College

and is hoping to take up a place on an Access to HE course next year. Andrew has moved up

through Forward into Learning courses and Skills for Life Literacy and Numeracy. His story is

unusual but inspiring.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia in his 20s, Andrew has been through years of substance abuse

and is now turning his life around. “I’ve been clean now for 6 years. I want to work with

people who have drug and alcohol problems and I’m volunteering this summer in a rehab

centre before I start my Access to HE course.

My experience of coming back to

education has been really positive. I’m

enjoying GCSE English, learning about

alliteration, rhetorical questions and

reading Shakespeare. That’s something

I’d never done before. I like the adult

environment. You’re not talked at.

I was really bright at primary school, won

a mastermind competition and was

probably the best footballer of my year. I

didn’t cause any trouble until secondary

school. I believe I was tarred with the

same brush as my brother who’d been a

skiver and I think I lived up to the lower

expectations of my teachers. I couldn’t

afford further education anyway as my

Dad left when I was 4 and I had to leave

school and get a job.”

Andrew’s advice for people who want to move back

in to learning is: “Don’t rush it. Ease yourself back

gently. I did my Level 1 and 2 English before the

GCSE year and I’m glad I’ve done Pathway before

the Access course.

It’s given me confidence and I’ve been told I’m a

strong candidate now.”


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Football Crazy but Failed to Score

“I was mad about football at school so I didn’t want to do anything else. I didn’t see why it was important to do well and by the time I’d decided it was important to learn, it was probably too late.”

So says Lee Higgins who now works as a physiotherapy technical instructor for Humber Foundation NHS Trust. Lee has been attending a Skills for Life workshop at the Trust’s Learning Centre since 2010. During that time he has achieved Entry Level 3, Level 1 and Level 2 Literacy, and Level 1 and Level 2 Numeracy qualifications.

Lee thinks the process has been hard but good. “The tutor has helped me to learn at my own pace and given me the space to try and work things out for myself rather than just telling me what to do. Doing this course has increased my confidence in all areas of my life: my communication with clients has improved and my notes are clearer; it has helped me with home improvements, darts calculations and helping my son with his homework.”

“I’ve never passed anything before”

Sarah Kirby left school at 14 because she’d been bullied. “I worked in a shop for four years and then had a child. I started working in care homes and eventually got a full time job as a healthcare assistant with the NHS. I love the job but it would be great to qualify as a staff nurse. Getting my Level 2 maths qualification will help me to do this but most of all, I did it for me. I’ve never passed anything before.”

Pictured: Sarah Kirby and Lee Higgins with their tutor, Emma Sayers (left)


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“In Afghanistan everything is very different from here”

Shukria Bakshi is an ESOL student from Afghanistan who has won many student awards

since she came to Hull College, including this year’s Outstanding Student of the Year in

the Adult Learners’ Week Awards as well as recognition from NIACE during their annual

Adult Learner Week’s celebrations. Shukria has progressed through ESOL Cambridge

University qualifications since she started at Hull College in 2008.

Shukria speaks movingly of her experiences. “In Afghanistan everything is very different

from here. I left school when I was six because of much fighting so we had to stay at

home, but we were not safe inside and we were not safe outside, either. I hope that one

day I can go back to my country so that my children can live and study without any

problems and they can feel free.

When I came here I felt freedom and I was beginning to know who I was. I was a little

bit like a deaf and dumb person who was not listening and not seeing properly, but I

started learning quickly.

One day my friend showed me to Hull College and after 6 months I could read and write

and I was very proud of myself. I can study without fear. Now I really know who I am.”


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“People seemed hugely strange to

me”

Qudratullah Nazari is from Afghanistan and

started at Hull College in 2008, after arriving in

England in 2006 as a 16-year-old. He is

another award-winning student who has

progressed through the ESOL levels right from

Entry 1 to Level 1 and now he is studying for

GCSE Maths alongside Accountancy.

“When I arrived in the UK I was absolutely

shocked, shaken and so nervous! Everything

changed for me and the language was the most

difficult part. Also, people seemed hugely

strange to me and when I was asking them

something, they didn’t understand me. But

they were trying to be helpful and they were

telling me by their body language, which made

me feel happier.

I am really enjoying the courses I am studying

at Hull College. The main reason is the teachers

who are really helpful and doing their best. I

will never ever forget their hard work and all

they have done for us.”

“In my country education is not compulsory”

Hassan Abdulaziz from the Sudan is studying ESOL at Level 1 and has been a student at

Hull College since 2009.

“I didn’t know anything about the UK when I arrived but I enjoyed it from the very first

step I made here. I came in the summer time and the weather was very similar to my

country. I also thought that people were welcoming and respectful.

There are many reasons why I enjoy living and studying here. The first is the law for

citizens because it helps everyone to feel safe, be treated in a fair and just way, and

no-one is above the law.

Secondly, it is the education here because you can have an opportunity to prove yourself

and achieve what you want. In my country education is not compulsory and people in

Africa don’t have the same opportunities as here.”


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Diane Grassby

Studying on an English and Maths programme at the College, Diane wanted to improve her skills and prospects. “The tutors at the College are so helpful and cheerful and I really believe that I am becoming a more rounded person by studying here. I feel more confident in myself and I am also able to help my children at home more which is a real plus.”

Michelle Clayton

Michelle came to the College is 2008 to study for an Entry Level Literacy qualification. Since then she has progressed onto Level 1 and now Level 2. “I knew I needed to improve my Maths and English skills and, when my children started to reach secondary school age, I bit the bullet and enrolled at the College; I really wanted to be able to help them with their homework! I love the courses at College – I feel more confident and am really enjoying exploring my work. I hope to get a job in the future.”


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Graham’s ultimate goal is to help others to learn and he aspires to be a Support Worker at Hull College. When he came to the College in 2008, he was unable to read, spell or write and had relied on his family and friends to help him. Now he is studying for his Level 3 qualifications and has gained Literacy and Numeracy qualifications too. “I do a lot of work with the NHS, helping nurses and other medical professionals understand things from a patient’s perspective. Once I get my certificates from the College I really want to be able to give back and pass that knowledge on. The College is a wonderful learning environment; I love meeting people and the staff are so helpful. I have found that I really enjoy Maths as well. I can’t wait to put my skills to good use.”

Graham North


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“I could kick that door in with a rifle in my hand easier than I

can open it to go into the classroom.”

“When I go to college it’s very hard for me. I think ‘frightened’ is the wrong word. I was

in the army 13 years. I did four tours of Ireland in the early seventies. I’ve jumped out of

aircraft, abseiled and even been in a hurricane in an eight-berth yacht, but this is different.

I could kick that door in with a rifle in my hand easier than I can open it to go into the

classroom.”

These are the words of John Bowler, at 58 one of our prize-winning students and creative

writers from the English and Maths workshops at Hull College.

John finds it hard to understand why that barrier of the classroom door still causes him

anxiety, embarrassment and shame, after so many years of success at work. John works

for Stagecoach as a bus driver after his years in the army, has taught himself computer

engineering and can take computers apart and mend them with ease.

But that door? John suspects his fear of education stems from bad experiences at school.

“I’ve blanked most of my school out, to be honest,” he says. “I remember asking a

question once about maths and the teacher took me outside, hit me with a ruler, then sent

me back in saying, ‘You’ll remember it now!’

No more questions from me after that. My Dad, too, just kept saying to me, ‘Are you

stupid or what?’”

John has found it easier to work alongside adults in the workshops and appreciates the

support of his tutors. “All the tutors are really great with me. Nobody’s ever had a go at

me at the College. I’ve started really enjoying writing which I’ve never done before.”

John also appreciates the support he’s had from Nigel Skinner, the Union Learning

Representative at Stagecoach, who’s also a prize-winning student in our workplace

blended learning class, where John started off doing his qualifications. “The first time

Emma (John’s tutor ) gave me homework I ripped it up. Nigel said to me, ‘Get your .…

back there!’ Emma was really nice about it.”

John’s experience is not uncommon among our workshop students, who often have

memories of humiliation in classrooms in childhood that are so hard to shake off. Their

courage in returning to education cannot be underestimated.

John B

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Tracy Chapman

Tracy’s sister told her about her great experience at Hull College and encouraged Tracy to enrol on the same course. Since then Tracy agrees with her sister that the support and help at the College is brilliant. “I have been enrolled at the College since 2008 on various English and Maths courses. I work with children and know that literacy and numeracy skills are important; I want to become a Teaching Assistant. I really enjoy coming to College – my group is great and I get on well with my tutors and other students.”


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“Nobody wants to be the class fool”

Adult English and Maths students at the Kingswood

College of Arts Learning Centre tell their inspirational

stories.

“I’ve really surprised myself getting where I’ve got

so far. I just never thought I could do it.”

Tracey Potter, 41, has already achieved her English qualification at Level 2 at

Kingswood School of Arts, and on the day I spoke to her was sitting her maths

exam. This, along with her Access to HE course at Hull College, will win her a

place on a Social Work degree at Hull University.

It was life’s hard knocks, two in Tracey’s case, that set her on an unexpected

path from motherhood to career. First, the break-up of her marriage led to

family problems. These brought the involvement of a social worker who seeded

the idea in Tracey, “You’d make a good social worker yourself”.

The second life-changer was a health scare which led to a major operation. “In

the next bed was a lady called Kasha, who wanted to start her own catering

business. We agreed, ‘Right, we’re going for it.’ We’re still in touch and

Kasha’s managed it too. She has her own van delivering food.”

I asked Tracey why she didn’t get the qualifications she clearly deserves at

school. “I was just never any good. I don’t know why but I just couldn’t do it,

didn’t get it, always got left behind at the back. I didn’t want to stick my hand

up and be ridiculed. Nobody wants to be the class fool. Now I understand it.

I’m not frightened to ask and to keep asking until I get it. I’ll ask until it’s

explained in a way I understand.

It’s not blackboard teaching here. Sue doesn’t teach at you, she helps and

explains.”

Did Tracey find it hard to make that first step back into learning? “Yes I was

scared, not knowing what to expect. My first teacher here, Christian, helped me

through Level 1 English. He was so nice, he didn’t ridicule me. Then I did Level

1 Maths and here I am today waiting to take my Level 2 Maths exam. The

people here are great, Sue’s fantastic, and we have a good social life coming

here on a Tuesday morning.”


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I wondered what Tracey thought would make

her a good social worker: “Because I’ve been

through it myself I can empathise with people.

I’m not going to say, ‘Oh God, they’re moan-

ing again.’

Tracey won one of our two ‘Adult Learner of

the Year Awards’ in Adult Learners’ Week in

May 2012.

“I realised at my age I

had to take a step

back to take a step

forward.”

Rachel Stafford, 34, was also pushed by a disastrous life experience to go

back to learning. The collapse of her marriage five years ago, the effects of

this on her children, and the help she got from Women’s Aid all moved her to

use her experience of being listened to and supported, to want to help others.

She decided she wanted “a career not just a job”, went along one day to Hull

College, spoke to a careers’ adviser, and the next thing she knew he’d phoned

Kingswood and got her enrolled on an English and Maths course.

“It was exciting rather than frightening. I didn’t have time to think, ‘Am I doing

the right thing?’ It was a bit scary the first time I walked in but I realised at my

age I had to take a step back to take a step forward. At school I could only get

Ds, I just didn’t try hard enough, no incentive. I tell my daughter now, ‘Don’t

mess about. Just do it!’

After joining the English and Maths classes Rachel went on to a foundation

course in Counselling with Hull University, also run at Kingswood, and is ready

to start a degree in counselling once she’s completed her qualifications.


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Kingswood College of Arts Learning Centre

“In hindsight, it’s being classed as a slow learner at

school that’s made me want to help children get the

best chance in life.”

For Naomi Correra, now 42, it was the experience of being made redundant last year

that brought her back into learning. “It really knocked my confidence and I knew I had to

enhance my chances of getting a job.” When she applied for her Teaching Assistants’

course she was asked when she was last assessed for English and Maths. “Well it was

over 20 years ago, and I only got CSEs.” Naomi is doing both Maths and English

qualifications. “I have a level 3 in childcare but I needed to brush up my skills in the

basics, especially as I have to be able to teach as they do in schools, such as phonics.”

Naomi volunteers in a primary school and playgroup so is putting her skills to the test

already.

Although Naomi too felt a bit anxious at first about coming to maths and English classes,

the tutors made her feel at ease straight away. “I hated maths at school but now the

penny’s dropped. I’m enjoying it and learn something every time. Also at school I learnt

slowly, but here I can work at my own pace, I get one-to-one help and I don’t get labelled. In hindsight, it’s being classed as a slow learner at school that’s made me want to help

children get the best chance in life.”

And Naomi’s advice to anyone worried about coming back to learning after a big gap?

“Go for it. It’ll boost your confidence no end. You can go at your own pace, no pressure,


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“My brain had turned to mush”

Teresa Johnson, 39, has just started coming to the English and Maths

classes at Kingswood, after nine years at home looking after the kids. She

came through word of mouth from friends, and wants to get her brain

working again (“my brain had turned to mush”), and improve her confidence

now she’s back in the job market.

“It was a shock finding out I’m dyslexic. I’m still a

normal person. I don’t feel any different.”

Ross Lever, 19, is also getting help with both maths and English to help him

in his search for work. Ross was diagnosed with dyslexia when he studied

Art and Design at Hull College, too late for him to get the help he had needed

while at school. “It was a shock finding out I’m dyslexic. I’m still a normal

person. I don’t feel any different.”

Ross is pleased that his tutor, Sue, is giving him lots of strategies and

practical ways to learn.

“We’re full of people who didn’t get it at school”

I talked to Christine Gillard (below), who’s the Learning Centre Manager

at Kingswood. As well as working with Hull College, she’s built up

partnerships with Hull University and Adult and Community Education to

deliver classes in the centre. The atmosphere’s buzzing and many classes

have a waiting list.

Chris is looking forward to the new building opening next year and to

expanding the courses on offer through Hull College, including GCSE Maths

and English, and working with our Performing Arts School in the new theatre

space.

Photos by Thomas Arran

and H Kitson (pp5, 6 and

8).

Interviews by H Kitson and

Emma Sayers.

DTP by Cheri Whitehead

sem newsletter september 2012

Documents

dyslexia support workshop

dyslexia assessment

dyslexia team

upset sylvia

sylvia thurloe

primary school

people dont

direct people