Karen Gray

Membership Grade: Member
Length of IfL Membership: 2 Years 1 Month
Current Position: Course Leader & Lecturer
Reserved Seats: Work-based Learning/Adult and Community Learning/South East England

I have been in education since 2000 starting off by being a distance learning tutor and then assessing. I then put myself through the Verifiers Award, the Certificate in Adult Education (7306) and the Certificate in education. After qualifying, I was asked to join the Teacher Education team at the college I was working at lecturing on the Assessor, Verifier and Learning and Development Awards. I have always pushed myself forward to achieve post compulsory qualifications through self discipline and personal drive. I have recently been appointed as an External Verifier for the QTLS qualifications and the Learning and Development Units and am really looking forward to the challenges ahead. I am currently in my 2nd year of a Masters in Education which has given me the opportunity to evaluate and interrogate the post compulsory sector and share my findings with colleagues and students.

I am and have been course leader on the PTLLS, CTLLS and DTLLS courses for more than one provider since their introduction in September 2007. Feedback from External Verifiers regarding these programmes has always been positive towards the management, planning, design, delivery, assessment and evaluation of all the courses. As a teacher trainer I feel I am very well placed to share best practice and recognise the 5 year strategy that the IfL has published with fellow colleagues and trainee teachers.

I consider myself to lead by example and share my own learning and development with colleagues and learners to enable them to learn from my experience. I was awarded QTLS status in the first round of applications in April 2009 and attended the awards ceremony in Westminster. I have used this opportunity to support and guide colleagues in supporting them in their A/QTLS status. I have been a member with the IfL since October 2007 and have actively used the body to check updates on how the post compulsory educational sector is developing and sharing current practice with colleagues and students alike.

If I am successful in this nomination process, working for a number of training providers will allow me to communicate effectively through:   

  • management meetings – sharing updated and new communication along with offering guidance on the effective implementation of information.   
  • teaching practice to up and coming trainee teachers.   
  • centres on a face to face basis when carrying out EV visits; again through sharing information on a face to face basis.   
  • regular email and telephone communication with colleagues and students.   
  • the social network site used to communicate with students on the teacher training courses I deliver (i.e. Ning).   
  • building professional relationships in a supportive and relaxed manner so that members can get the most out of me in the role I hope to play within the IfL.

I feel in my current roles the qualities I have are:   

  • Approachable   
  • Communicative   
  • Professional   
  • Supportive   
  • Sense of humour   
  • Adaptable to change   
  • Respectful   
  • Passionate   
  • Enthusiastic