“If you can do better, do better” is a mantra that was lovingly drilled into me by my Nan, the most influential leader and one of the strongest women I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. It shaped me, and my story – especially in the early years of my education and career. However – “doing better” is not always the silver bullet that it’s cracked up to be if it’s based on activity and grind alone. I’ve found “being better” to be much more achievable and impactful both professionally and personally.
Hi, I’m Claud. Claudine if I’m in trouble with you. Intrinsically motivated, and empowered by that source. I could never squeeze my whole story into this blog, I have the ambition to write a book one day, but I’ll do my best to be succinct with you here.
Though titles aren’t that important in today’s world, I reflect on mine today, in the context of the worthy celebration of women, for International Women’s Day 2025. I’m proud to be the Executive Head of Quality at Access Education Group and I stand tall amongst a company of phenomenal women bosses who I work with here each day. I salute you all – as we juggle the complexities of the different hats we wear, we show up and get our jobs done – well. We champion each other’s successes, pass the tissues when they’re needed, and overcome imposter syndrome when it rears its ugly head with authority and flair. Keep it up, girls!
How many female FE teachers are there?
According to the last available DfE data set, 60.2% of FE teachers and 51.7% of leaders in ITPs are female. We are well represented in the sector and the perception of there being a glass ceiling over us is a theory that is melting away. (There’s further to go in pay equality within FE, but that’s a blog for another day.) You will find women in education to have made a plethora of different routes in; a range of career trajectories and stories which deserve to be told to inspire the generation of women behind us.
As for mine, I’ve always had a desire to change the world. I started out pursuing a legal career, straight out of school I did my A Levels, Law Degree, Post-graduate studies, and a training contract in a prestigious law firm – qualifying and practicing as a family lawyer for 6 years. I wanted to change lives by convincing judges to rule in my client’s favour, healing the world one family at a time. I soon learned a hard lesson, that the legal system wasn’t about finding the truth – but the best representation of it. Whilst I was trying to save the world, the firms I worked for needed to make money to be viable. I had to develop a business ethic and work strategically to meet financial targets which at times clashed with my morals and values.
Disillusioned with my legal career, and hungry for change – I pursued a new one in education, qualifying as a teacher and joining the Access family in December 2011 as a Functional Skills teacher. Teaching English and Maths to cohorts of creative learners was as exciting as it was rewarding. Still with a desire to “be better” and to be a woman of impact – I saw our students holistically against the backdrop of the market that drives FE. I didn’t necessarily have leadership ambition, but I did have a desire to upskill and empower the teachers I was working alongside to be better, and stronger, and to make a positive impact on the students we serve each day. It wasn’t long before I became an Advanced Teaching Practitioner, which to this day remains the best job I’ve had in FE. Working side by side with staff, aiding their professional development and securing positive outcomes for our students as a result. It was that role which became my launchpad to leadership. It wasn’t a qualification, it wasn’t grinding my face into the ground – it was a desire to serve others – something which is also instilled in me by my Christian faith.
How to be a leader in the education industry
A leader must first know how to serve. The leaders I work with at ACC know what it is to have dirty fingernails on the front line, something which aids our authenticity. From ATP, I continued to be promoted and have been a Curriculum & Quality Manager, Curriculum Leader for Maths and English, and Head of Maths and English on my way to my current role. And to be honest, at each seat on the table, I have often been in the minority both in regards to my gender and ethnicity. However, this has never been a put-off – on the contrary, an impetus to keep striving! I love sitting in our classrooms, walking through our corridors, speaking to learners, letting them know what I do and representing our Central Services team whilst inspiring them to aim higher.
As a female leader in education, I am sure to bring my identity into my work every day. I’m a Wife, I’m a mother of two young kids, I’m a Minister in my Church, and I love people. I’m a musician, a writer and a keen gardener. I’ve learnt that if I leave all that at home, and approach my professional life under some other persona, I cannot function authentically. My identity feeds my professional one and has been a large part of my journey into leadership. Doing better gets you so far, but being better, i.e. true to your morals, values and identity whilst helping others to achieve their fullest potential, is where the real gold is at.
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