DCG Success Stories

When Derby College Group teacher Emma Smith returned to learning after a gap of nearly 10 years, she knew she wanted to go all the way to doctorate level.

Emma, who teaches health and social care, took a social sciences access course at DCG when she was 27. And, after gaining distinctions across the board, she went on to do a criminology and psychology degree at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). 

She then did a master’s in forensic mental health – and next year she will complete her PhD.

Emma, who is now 37 and from Ilkeston, likes to share her experiences of higher education with her DCG  students.  

A single mum with two children, she wants them to know that progressing to degree level and beyond is still possible, whatever your background or personal circumstances. 

She said: “When I first left school, I started A-levels but left after the first year as they weren’t for me at that time. I wanted to go out to work.  

“Over the next few years, I did several jobs including customer services in Tesco and purchasing assistant for a caravan furnishings company.  

“When my first son was only two months old, I decided to go back to college to take the social sciences access course. I was 27 and knew that if I didn’t do it then, I’d never would.  

“I enjoy learning and like psychology and this time I decided I’d go as far as is possible in higher education.  

“It was hard at times – I had my second son just after I’d finished my master’s degree, but my dad helped me out a lot.” 

Emma joined the staff at DCG earlier this term, after five years lecturing in psychology at NTU  Working alongside some of the college tutors who taught her on the access course, she teaches health and social care to students on levels 1, 2 and 3 and entry level learners on the routes course. 

Outside of work, study and raising her family, Emma has been involved in many voluntary sector projects, including Healthwatch Derbyshire and the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Whatton. 

Her PhD thesis centres on the impact of factors such as gender and demographics on drug and alcohol addiction recovery.