Learning Coaches

Cymraeg

Lisa Edwards, Lecturer in Caring , Barry College, Barry

Who are your typical clients?

16–19 year olds; mostly girls because it’s childcare and we rarely get boys (we’ve had about six in 12 years).

What do you do all day?

Administration, pastoral care, teaching, answering the phone, liaising with parents, liaising and organising work placements, planning, development, and I’m also the union rep.

What's the best bit of your job?

I like the variety and the beginning and end of the academic year – there’s a clean start every September.

Are there any downsides?

An enormous unmanageable workload and the long hours culture.

What are your work history highlights?

[wasn't asked this question]

What is your dream job?

It would have to involve working with people, preferably earning enough money to retire after a year. Maybe motivational coaching in different corporations/providing techniques for employees. To actually teach would be good – I don’t do a lot these days. I’d like to focus on educating young people to be able to think for themselves rather than training them to make the appropriate responses.

What do you like to do in your leisure time?

I swim a lot. I like walking, photography and spending time with friends and family.

Which modules have you done so far?

The Mentoring Process

What do you hope to get out of the course?

The accreditation and continuous professional development. It would be useful to have a coaching qualification in terms of where I might go in the future.

What have you got out of the course so far?

Meeting other practitioners. With a move to a more integrated approach it’s useful to get a feel for what is going on in the 14–16 age group, where my students come from. It’s quite exciting to be involved in a pilot.

How has the course improved your work with young people?

It will make me re-evaluate my practice.