Get ahead by tackling your fears about technology . . .
AFTER spending years in a senior human relations role, Gertrude Hendrickson decided that she wanted to help young people build their futures.
The 62-year-old felt it was time for a career change and began working as a teaching assistant at R.Y.A.N. Education Academy, an independent school in Birmingham.
While at the school, she was encouraged in 2015 to embark on an intermediate apprenticeship in supported teaching and learning at Walsall College, West Midlands, to update her skills.
Mrs Hendrickson, from Birmingham, has already completed a Level 1 ICT qualification and a Level 2 intermediate apprenticeship in supported teaching and learning. She now aims to progress to Level 3 and eventually train to become a teacher. She says: ‘My manager recommended Walsall College to me as it was an outstanding college that has a reputation for delivering high-quality courses.
‘I needed a certain level of skills to move further in primary school teaching, and the qualification I had for teaching adults wasn’t sufficient. I needed to do this apprenticeship to bring me up to date.’
Part of Mrs Hendrickson’s course involved sharpening up her computer skills — which meant that she had to ‘conquer her fear of IT’.
She says: ‘In my previous role in HR, I had my own secretary and clerical assistant who did all of the typing work for me, and produced charts and financial reports on my behalf. So having to do that myself was a major learning curve for me. There were many challenges, but with the support of my tutor, I have conquered that fear and passed my Level 1 ICT qualification. I received so much motivation from staff, who were there every step of the way.’
With her new-found IT skills, Mrs Hendrickson is able to support her pupils in their IT lessons, and now aims to become a teacher, using her apprenticeship as a teaching assistant as a starting point.
Having gained her Level 1 and 2 qualifications, she says: ‘I would like to take my skills further by training to support young people in other areas, such as mental health and emotional well-being.’
Mrs Hendrickson is two years into her new teaching assistant role and believes her career change was one of the best decisions she has made.
Catherine Ryan-Harris, headteacher at R.Y.A.N. Education Academy, says: ‘Since attending the apprenticeship course at Walsall College, Mrs Hendrickson has done well to apply her learning and development which has strengthened her skills. She has excellent teamwork and good communication skills. She is an inspiration and an asset to the Academy.’