DCG Success Stories

The assistant associate head of Derby’s Kingsmead School has paid tribute to Derby College Group’s ‘collaborative and reflective’ approach to teacher training.

Will Broderick, who is also head of maths at the special school, took the Certificate in Education with DCG, as well as the PTTLS and DTTLs entry level teaching courses earlier in his career.

Will, who is 38, loves his job and finds it extremely rewarding, but at no stage in his twenties did he ever aspire to becoming a teacher.

He said: “I’m not the sort of person who ever designs my future. I’ve always loved music so after trying several different jobs after first leaving school, I worked as a DJ.

“I did that for several years and through that got involved with teaching students at national charity Nacro.

“Off the back of that, I became a teaching assistant at Kingsmead and shortly after became an unqualified teacher, teaching some of the most vulnerable students in Derby.”

Will’s good results in maths one-to-ones led to him being offered the role of subject head, but to take up his appointment he needed QTS qualified teacher status.

Already on a part-time Open University degree course in natural sciences, he sought advice from Derby College and found he qualified for DCG’s Certificate in Education at the Roundhouse.

He said: “It was great to be reunited with the tutors I’d had back in 2008. Derby College has been instrumental in guiding me.

“I’ve learned so much about learning theories and how education fits in. It’s enabled me to see the bigger picture and to be a leader now.

“Derby College promotes a collaborative and reflective approach every step of the way, which is the right way forward for education.”

Will who became associate assistant head in January, works across three different sites teaching Key Stage 2 to Key stage 4.