We enjoy sharing your achievements and celebrating your successes. Here you can discover how other alumni have progressed within the education and childhood sector.

Do you have an interesting story to share with your fellow alumni? Download and complete our alumni profile form (DOC, 41.2KB) and email it back to us with a photo.

Sally McGowan

PGCE Secondary Design and Technology (Food Technology) with QTS, class of 2009

Sally McGowan is an education officer for the School of Artisan Food. They specialise in preparing traditional artisan foods and they run a baking diploma and short courses in artisan skills. She works with local schools and the community, teaching them about cooking locally sourced, seasonal food in a traditional way.

'I graduated in 2009 and spent my NQT year teaching in a challenging secondary school in Blackpool before taking up a teaching post in Brentwood in Essex. I gained skills in areas such as resilience, adaptability and management, and I really developed my own teaching style. I knew I wanted to move home to Sheffield, so I applied for this job and haven’t looked back.

'I contact schools and work with them to create courses catered to their needs. These range from one hour lectures on breads to GCSE and A level work.

'What I love the most is the complete change I get from going into these diverse schools. I might be cooking food grown in the allotment with a primary school or working with 18 year olds, which really keeps me on my toes. One day I’m in the office making resources, doing admin and eating amazing food, the next I’m out and about visiting schools and teaching.

'I want to carry on working here to build our links with the local community and to secure more funding to enable the work to carry on. Hopefully in the near future I'll be working with young people at risk of becoming NEETs – not in education, employment or training – as well as students who've been excluded from their schools.

'Sheffield Hallam gave me all the skills and knowledge I needed to teach. I'd advise anyone who wants to work in a similar role to get as much work experience as you can in your field. Before becoming a teacher, I’d worked in restaurants, bars, Disneyland Paris, cleaning mobile homes in Europe, and worked on reception. Then as a teacher I got involved in as many extra-curricular activities as possible. All of my life experiences, as well as my passion for food and qualified teacher status, helped me to secure my dream job.'

Angie Simms

MA TESOL, class of 2010

Angie works as an ESOL Lecturer and Teacher Trainer at Hopwood Hall FE College in Rochdale. When not working Angie enjoys cycling and horse riding.

'I have been teaching for almost 25 years, and have always loved my job as an ESOL lecturer (English for Speakers of Other Languages). However, in recent years I have felt that I would like to use my experience and skills to train new and existing teachers.

The MA course has given me both the confidence and level of qualification I needed to start work in the teacher training department as well as continuing in my role as an ESOL tutor.

I am currently developing and teaching on the PTTLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) course at Hopwood Hall College. I am also working on the establishment of a CETLS (Certificate of Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector), and will contribute to the Cert Ed. programme starting in September.

In the recent internal inspection, my teaching was graded ‘Outstanding’ and I was offered the opportunity to become a Teaching and Learning Coach, working across the college to share good practice and enhance the skills of other less experienced teachers.

I am keen to continue developing my role in teacher education at my college, as well as maintaining a high standard of teaching in the ESOL department.

I also plan to take a ‘teaching mentor’ training course in September, which will enable me to work alongside new Cert Ed trainees, guiding and supporting them in their teaching placements.

Since graduating from the MA programme I have established a private training company with a colleague (who has also gained an MA TESOL from Sheffield Hallam). We aim to provide specialist training for staff in ESOL and Skills for Life, and have so far delivered sessions in a prison and the local council.

The MA TESOL course was by distance learning and I particularly enjoyed the contact with ESOL practitioners around the world. The areas of study were fascinating and directly relevant to my area of expertise. Studying for the course both improved my own teaching, and enabled me to share up to date good practice with my colleagues. The feedback and support given by the TESOL tutors was excellent throughout the course.

All in all the MA course at Sheffield Hallam was inspirational. I have proved to myself that I am capable of far more than I thought possible. I achieved a Distinction, whereas as an undergraduate 25 years ago, I only managed a 2:2! There is no doubt, my working life has been transformed by the experience of challenging post-graduate study.

My advice to anyone considering post-graduate study would be, go for it! As an adult student working in a challenging environment, it is tough trying to fit everything in, but I have no regrets. It has both opened doors and given me tremendous confidence for the future.'