Dave Bains

Membership Grade: Full Member
Current Position: Lecturer
Reserved Seats: FE Colleges/North East England

I realised I wanted to become a teacher after being made redundant at the ripe old age of 19. To make this a reality I returned to F.E. and studied ‘A’ levels. My next step was to progress to University where I studied Design and Technology in Education.

Once qualified, my career started in the North East teaching photography as an agency worker. From photography I took aside-ways step after some re-training to start teaching E.S.O.L. and this eventually progressed to working in the community assisting adults with their Literacy, Numeracy and I.T. skills.

Whilst working as an agency worker, a permanent position as Personal Tutor was advertised at my local College, and my career path took yet another change in direction.

From here, I seemed to lean more towards the students with behavioural issues, or the less able and shared great empathy with them which I feel is vital to encouraging them to stay engaged within their program of learning.

At present I have again changed career direction. I no longer am a personal tutor, but instead teach various subjects to students with special needs, behaviour issues and also students who were not able to complete their education at school for numerous reasons. I also have a great deal to do with any NEET intake at the college. I have for the past three years successfully ran NEET courses at the college and there have been many success stories where students have become re-engaged with their education and employment.

I would relish the opportunity to have a voice within the IfL and contribute to its direction in the future. I feel that I would make a good member as I have followed such a varied route in my career, and gained an extensive range of knowledge and understanding of many different subject areas and student groups.