Tees Business Issue 32 | Page 75

EDUCATION
First class – mums Kassandra Allison and Kirsty Hall celebrate their degrees .

Mums have done good ! emotional events . “ Lenny is a stand-out example of what can be achieved at our colleges . Working alongside his employers at PD Ports , his tutors have seen him go from strength-to-strength in his chosen profession . From first joining the group at 16 to standing on the stage receiving his HNC is quite a journey . His success , like so many others , is truly something to celebrate and as a college group we are proud to be able to play our part . “ Alongside those who join us straight from school or college , we have many students who are adults returning to education to fulfil lifelong ambitions . For the majority that can mean balancing their studies around the demands of work and family commitments .

“ Delivering higher education courses in a college environment means that our class sizes are smaller than a typical university setting , which can mean more direct tuition time for students .
“ Our teachers will often know students ’ hopes , ambitions and fears , as well as perhaps the names of their children or even pets , and how their day at work has been . It should come as no surprise then that their success often feels like our own .”
Offering a variety of higher education , access to higher education and professional programmes that can fit around the demands of family and work , discover how you can follow your dreams with a course at a college that ’ s close to home .

When it comes to showing their children what doing your homework can achieve , these mums are top class .

It ’ s been a bumper year in education for Kassandra Allison and Kirsty Hall who both not only achieved GCSEs in the summer but have now graduated with first class honours degrees as well .
Taking to the stage at Stockton Riverside College ’ s graduation ceremony at the Stockton Globe , with their families in the audience , Kassandra , 32 , of Eaglescliffe , said : “ This is what it has all been for , this is the moment we have been working towards .”
Pursuing their dreams of careers in teaching , the classmates completed foundation degrees in
To find out more visit : www . stockton . ac . uk / higher-education www . cleveland . ac . uk / higher-education
supporting teaching and learning last year .
“ That was exciting and a great moment ,” said Kirsty , 34 , of Billingham .
But moving on to the BA Hons Education and Training , she added : “ We already had our eyes fixed on the black gowns .”
After another year juggling the demands of research , dissertation writing , GCSEs and , of course , family life , for both mums , graduation marked the culmination of all that hard work – or so they thought .
In fact , each is now continuing with their studies . Kassandra has signed up to study a PGCE at the college while Kirsty is on a school centred initial teacher training placement .
Head to Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College ’ s live ONLINE higher education open event on Thursday January 12 , from 5pm to 7pm . Visit the websites to book your place .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 75