Meet the teaching team
Stephen Kearns and Matthew Smith both completed Go Higher and are now tutors in maths with Stephen teaching philosophy too. Stephen left school with a handful of GCSEs and had many jobs before progressing to a degree, masters and now PhD in philosophy. Matt too completed Go Higher before changing track to a degree in Physics and going on to doctoral study. Stephen and Matt have proven methods to ensure that even students scared of maths succeed – they never leave anyone behind!
One of the features of Go Higher is the dedicated study skills support. Skills mentor and literacy co-ordinator Barbara Milne is a former Go Higher with a degree in English. Barbara’s calming personality puts all our students, typically nervous at the start, quickly at ease. Barbara works with Julia Mackereth, skills mentor and Disability Co-ordinator, a Liverpool English graduate whose journey to a degree and masters started with an access course at a local college. Julia always champions students with additional needs and ensures tutors stay on their toes and always make the adjustments necessary to support learning.
Although students can progress to a huge range of degrees from Architecture or Archaeology through to Business, Music and Urban Planning (and lots in between), core academic subjects taught on the programme are English, History, Law, Philosophy and Sociology. Dr David Ellis, our sociologist, worked in the building industry and car manufacturing after leaving school; he then completed a local access course which marked the start of life-changing journey leading to an undergraduate and postgraduate degrees here at Liverpool. David works closely with lawyer Darryn Nyatanga to ensure all students get a good grounding in social sciences. Darryn completed his degree here and is now putting the finishing touches to his PhD. On the arts side, Dr Sharon Connor, who teaches literature and history, has been a lecturer on the programme for over ten years. Sharon was a mature returner too and has gone from having just a handful of ‘O levels’ to inspiring our students with her expertise in nineteenth-century women writers, especially the Brontë sisters.
The Director and Deputy Director of Go Higher, Dr Claire Jones (history and philosophy) and Dr James Bainbridge (who also teaches in the English Department) have lectured on the programme long enough to see many of their Go Higher students progress through degrees to masters and PhDs, and of course to impressive careers beyond academia. Former students tend to stay in touch even years after leaving the University – something that reflects on the special student experience they remember from their days as a Go Higher.
Go Higher was an enjoyable experience and I really looked forward to spending the day in uni every Wednesday. What I found was that both the academic tutors and university staff were so approachable and friendly and really helped to make the idea of studying less daunting. They offered tremendous support and guidance and showed a genuine interest in the student’s development.
- Go Higher alumni