Jo Hawkins
Jo was among those to have completed their studies at the University of Worcester this year, through The Learning Institute in Cornwall.
The 35-year-old has just completed her studies in Professional Practice (Education), having first completed a Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning.
“I almost didn’t enrol on my third year of University due to other commitments, but I am so glad a couple of my lifelong friends that I made at the University persuaded me to do it,” she said. “I am absolutely lost for words at the thought of achieving a First.”
After leaving Penrice Secondary School, Jo became an insurance advisor, but after 12 years she decided to return to education, completing a Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning course at Cornwall College. She was volunteering at St Mewan Primary School when she first started her foundation degree with the University.
In September she returned to St Mewan to work as a teaching assistant in reception and said she was loving the role. She hopes to progress to teacher training next September.
As a working mum, Jo said the degree fitted around her lifestyle. “The support I received from the University was second to none,” she added. “My Personal Academic Tutor, Mary, was amazing and nothing was ever too much trouble, she was always at the end of an email, and she made sure she really knew us as individuals. This was the same for all the academic tutors; they went above and beyond to ease any of our concerns.
“If we had to work from home rather than being able to come into a classroom environment due to lockdown, we were always offered phone call tutorials for advice on assignments we were writing and we had a great network of support through social media.
“I lost my mum towards the end of our final year and Mary was always checking in on me and making sure I was coping with workloads and pressures. I would not have made it through my degree without the support of such amazing staff and lifelong friends I made along the way.”
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