As you probably know by now, I am exploring a new pedagogy for computing in secondary schools, looking at the possibility of an online system encapsulating online exams, testing and teaching performance in one system. It is a passion of mine as I believe EVERY child deserves the opportunity to learn computing skills. At present, under the new computing curriculum if a student does not select computer science for their GCSE, after the age of 14, in some schools, they receive NO computing or digital skills training at all. This will result in a huge skills gap and skills deficit in the future.
If you can indulge me a little, I would like to explain my background and how this became a passion and my mission in life. I was born in East Leeds, a deprived area of the city. My father was a bus driver, my mother a full time stay at home Mum. I was a mistake and for my whole life, my mother and sister made sure I knew I was and did everything they could to prevent me from having and pursuing my dreams.
I have always been fascinated with NASA and space travel, probably the idea of escaping! So, in the 1980s, when computing was initially introduced into school, I was devastated when I was told, I was not smart enough to study the subject. Back then, it was solely programming, I was also told I was too smart to sit RSA Typing, both skills I ended up teaching myself in a twenty-year career in Insurance Broking.
When I passed my A Levels, I had the opportunity to go to university and would have been the first to attend but, I am ashamed to say, I let my mother and sister talk me out of it and wear me down, making me believe I would never be good enough. The only option I had was to go out to work.
Thankfully, I had a very successful career in insurance broking for twenty years and then was hit by a mystery illness. It took three years for me to receive a diagnosis for Meniere’s Disease and a further ten years for Vestibular Migraine. During this time, I lost everything – my job, my home, my marriage, my subsequent relationship and my income. I used my savings, sold my clothes, missed meals to feed, clothe, educate and single-handedly raise my two amazing children.
I could have given in and believe me, there were times when I wanted to, but I am a fighter! So, in 2008 I embarked on a degree in Business Information Systems and whilst working part time, managing my illness and raising my children, I managed to achieve a first-class honours degree. After graduating, I wrote and published two fiction novels, but it is difficult to promote anything when you have no money to do so.
In 2017, I graduated with a distinction as Master of Science in Information Technology. My eldest son also graduated with a BA in Sports and Social Science.
I was written off … twice! Firstly, by my narcissistic relatives then by Meniere’s and Vestibular Migraine. Education has taught me that the system is not set up to help people like from with my background or from communities like mine. You have to fight the system every step of the way and that is not right. It is a huge mountain to climb.
So I am studying my PhD for many reasons but the overriding reason is to provide social justice to the children who are being cast aside as deemed as “not smart enough”; for those children who have parents who don’t care or want to hold them back and for those people with disabilities and single parents that are derided by our politicians. Yes, I class myself as a misfit and have a far from normal life. BUT the world needs misfits in order to question and put the wrongs right in our society.
The personal cost is huge. There is no scholarship available as, as a single Mum with an illness, I need to study at the closest University to home. I do have the student finance, but this is £25,000 over 4 years. The fees alone are take up the majority of this, leaving with about £40 per week for three of us to live on. We are literally living hand to mouth, my children have not had a holiday in years and doing it without a scholarship means I have to miss out seminars, conferences and additional resources but I am determined to smash every barrier to deliver for the young people of this country. I am just a single Mum, with a horribly unpredictable illness trying to help young people.
We don’t need politicians to effect change. REAL change comes through caring enough to want to be part of that change.
Best wishes
