Philippa Williams
Philippa did well during her primary school years, but found the learning in secondary schools difficult. She was disruptive and truanted a lot, leaving school at 13. After a long period of chaotic living, Philippa decided to attend a course at her local library as her child was learning computers in nursery. “I used to stand across the road in my grey world and look at this library where everything was shiny and bright, with people going in and out – I felt that was where life was”, she says.
After doing a short course, at 40 Philippa gained her European Computer Driving Licence. “My self esteem before the course was low, but afterwards I felt much more confident to the extent [that] I wanted to learn more and even help others to learn”, she explains. “I started to volunteer in the learning centre of my local library and was eventually offered a job – my first ever permanent job! It wasn’t compulsory to have a teaching qualification then, but I wanted to gain one for myself”.
She began with a short introductory teaching course at North London College, then went to City Lit – achieving a City & Guilds FE Teaching Stage 1 Certificate in 2007 and attaining a Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector last summer.
Despite writing being a big struggle for Philippa – “it’s like walking through treacle” – she is now studying at the University of London’s Institute of Education and should achieve qualified teacher status by the end of 2009.