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College welcomes new staff!

COLLEGE WELCOMES CLASS OF 2009

The new term at Walford and North Shropshire College heralds the start of 11 new, full-time teaching staff. Some are replacing staff that left at the end of the academic year, and others accommodating the record numbers of full time students enrolling. The new staff were welcomed by Andrew Tyley, College Principal, during his address to all College staff at the start of the month.

WALFORD EXPANSION

Small animal care programmes have grown substantially in student numbers over recent years. Jenna Motley is a newly qualified teacher that joins the team after her work placement at Walford earlier this year, receiving a first class honours degree in animal management from Rodbaston College and her PGCE from Glyndwr University.

Outdoor Education courses are proving to be increasingly popular. Former North Shropshire College student, Adrian Humphreys, joins the leisure, tourism and sports team to help with sport and outdoor education courses. Ade comments that: “the TNS scholarship offers a fantastic opportunity for students at the college” and says he “already feels part of a great sports and leisure team, based at both Oswestry and Walford.”

DIPLOMA DELIVERY

With the launch of the new Diploma courses at College this September, the hair and beauty team has expanded, with a number of part-time staff now full-time. This includes Rachel Young who has taken on responsibility for hair courses both in the day, and the evenings.

Melanie Donegan is another member of staff new to the college and joins the business studies team, helping to support the implementation of Business, Administration and Finance Diploma.  Mel has recently completed her post-graduate teaching qualification in London, having previously lived and worked in Shropshire.

New to the motor vehicle team over at Walford, Pete Creagh will help teach the growing numbers of14-19 year old students preparing for the new Engineering Diploma which starts in 2010.  Pete was previously lecturer in Telecommunications at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.

A LEVEL PROGRAMMES

Several new faces join the School of Arts & Science this summer to respond to the big increase in A-level students starting in September.  Siva Sivasubramaniyam will take on responsibility for A-level maths, relocating to Oswestry from the South East, bringing over 25 years experience of maths teaching in both the UK and Zimbabwe.  Joining the ICT and Computing team is Adrian Pullin, who previously worked as Senior Lecturer for Liverpool Hope University.

Ogo Ubah will take up the role of chemistry and biology lecturer, at the college, having a masters degree in biomedical science and previously working for Blessed Robert Johnson’s Catholic School in Wellington.  Ogo says: “I have found the college friendly, and the staff very supportive.” Andrew Coombs is another new member of staff at the college and finds there is a “nice working environment” already. Andrew teaches Photography and Graphic Design and joins us from Yale, where he was programme co-ordinator for the National Diploma.

WORK BASED LEARNING

Two new NVQ assessors, Dan Tompson and Nick Allen have been recruited to the Employer Engagement team to cope with the popularity of ‘Train to Gain’ NVQ courses open to those working in the hospitality and catering industries.  Dan was previously a Sous Chef at the New Inn, Baschurch, and Nick is a former Regiment Chef for the Royal Air Force. 

Walford and North Shropshire College prides itself as “probably the friendliest College in Shropshire,” and have welcomed the new staff with open arms.