What is your name, job title and place of work? 

Lee Myring, programme lead, maths and English at Leicester College

How long have you held your current role, and what other jobs did you have before? 

I joined the college as a student 25 years ago and as a staff member 17 years ago. Working in FE was my first “real” job, although I did help out on a building site during the summer months when I was a student.

How - and why - did you first start working in further education?  

I was training to be an FE teacher, and one day, a lady came in and asked for a volunteer to teach English for two hours a week. I started the next week as a very meek 22-year-old with no idea what I was doing. I very quickly got into the swing of it though and was offered a full time job a few months after I started.

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Briefly describe what a day at work looks like for you.  

I cycle into college about 7.45 am. I get changed, have a cup of tea and work out what I need for the day ahead. I specialise in teaching lower level functional skills maths, so my lessons need to be really interesting and busy. Most days I teach three 90-minute sessions and when I’m not in the classroom, I’m chasing attendance, drinking more tea and having a laugh with my colleagues in the staffroom. That banter has become so important to me, especially since the lockdown.

What motivates you in your workplace?  

I came into FE because I failed everything at school. At 15 years old, I had no idea what to do, I was shy and scared of what was to come. I joined the college doing a low-level business course and I loved it, everything about the college, felt so grown up. My main motivation is to help the students who I see myself in. I want them to grow in confidence and leave the college ready for the big, wide world. I also love working in FE as the mix of characters is unique. Every day is different.

Share an anecdote about a student or learner who has inspired you.  

My grandma was severely disabled so I am always inspired by the students who have disabilities and want to achieve their dreams. I taught a lad who had many issues and he kept scoring below 10 in the FS maths exam. I made it my mission to get him through and after a lot of hard work (mainly from him) he passed the exam with 46! When I saw his result, I punched the air.

Do you enjoy working in FE? And if so, why? 

Yes. Leicester College is in my blood. I’ve been here for 25 years, I love the place. I do moan and groan about things changing and the endless journey of improving success rates but for me seeing a student improve and gain in confidence is just as rewarding as seeing the pass grade sometimes.

What do you see as the big challenges for the FE sector in the next few years? 

Technology. Lockdown changed the way we teach and the way people look at teaching. Teaching online is fantastic for some students, but for many, it adds another barrier to them progressing. FE should carry on being FE. We are not a university or a school, FE is here for those who maybe struggled in academia and they need a different approach to get success.

What do you think our FE sector will look like in 30 years’ time? 

I think that online learning and the move to teaching virtually will see colleges, nationwide, become smaller. I think we will move towards becoming online providers and in 30 years, if FE still exists, it will be very different to what we see now. But, vulnerable students will always need in-person help, students will always need to learn about social boundaries and how to behave. We need to meet in person to boost confidence and esteem. So, I hope that FE is here to help future generations for years to come and as long as there are students to teach, I will be in my classroom.  

If you were made apprenticeships and skills minister, what is the first thing you’d introduce or change?  

I would get rid of functional skills English and ICT, and combine them into a new qualification: we need qualifications relevant to work today. Instead of handwriting students should be taught how to use ICT effectively. I would end the speaking and listening assessment which has become such a laborious, form filling exercise and I would encourage all colleges to get back to being FE colleges.

The message should be that FE is still here to support the most vulnerable, to help them prepare for work, to help them grow in confidence and become adults. FE should get back to looking at the distance they have travelled and not just the pass or fail mark.