- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Order a Prospectus
- Faculties & Departments
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
20 Jan 2011 14:16:53
Colin Creasey is an inspiration to many people – his pupils, his colleagues and all the aspiring teachers at the University of Bedfordshire.
The 49 year old from Dunstable, who has five years’ teaching experience, is now at Cedars Upper School in Leighton Buzzard. This is the second school he has taught in after beginning at King’s Houghton Middle School in Houghton Regis.
Colin has been nominated for a prestigious teaching award – The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Teachers Award – for his inspirational and outstanding teaching. The award is for a teacher who shows enthusiasm, passion and energy for their work, commitment and dedication and good subject knowledge/expertise in teaching or supporting lessons in STEM (Science, Technology, English and Maths) subjects.
He currently teaches Engineering, Carpentry, Product Design and Resistant Materials to students from Years Nine to 13, as well as being promoted to the role of STEM co-ordinator for the whole school.
This is a far cry from when the father of four worked shifts as an engineer in a large manufacturing company, Rexam.
Colin said: “My wife, Julia, who worked at King’s Houghton, told me of their struggle to find teachers of DT (Design Technology). I told her I would be able to help them out, as I worked shifts and had available time in the week. This resulted in me helping out for about 18 months as a volunteer, during which time I started to research ways of becoming a teacher.”
Colin took courses in Maths, English and Science to gain his GCSEs and at the same time, using his City and Guilds Engineering qualifications to meet the entry criteria, he was part of the first cohort on a new course, a Foundation Degree in Educational Practice, at the University’s Bedford campus.
He was still working full time as well as doing this full-time degree, and even taught two days a week on a voluntary basis.
Colin said: “All the participants on the course were like me and keen to get involved in education. You can imagine I didn’t have a lot of spare time!
“Midway during my Foundation Degree, I was offered a full-time teaching position at King’s Houghton which I decided to take, and this changed my lifetime career as an engineer to one of a teacher. This enabled me to have the support of a school and really live the life of a new teacher.”
After finishing his Foundation Degree in 2006, Colin decided to continue with a BA (Hons) in Educational Practice and he graduated a year later.
He said: “Being surrounded by so many positive people who wanted to achieve something is inspiring and encouraged me to continue with my education.”
After returning to industry for 18 months, and continuing to travel around Europe as an engineer, the teaching bug returned and, last year, he finally qualified as a teacher following the GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) route at the University.
Colin said: “I love teaching; I found Bedford to be a perfect fit for me and the ideal place for what I wanted. It’s been a life-changing experience for me. We’ve got a fantastic traditional department here at Cedars and it’s great to help the young people into work with practical advice and experience.
“I travelled the world as an engineer and I’m really grateful to Rexam as they bent over backwards to help me, even though they knew I would eventually leave.
“Although I don’t think I will win the award I’ve been nominated for, it’s still nice to be in it and to receive recognition for your work.”
Latest news» 2011» January» Colin engineers his pathway into teaching
