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DCG Success Stories

Kirsty McKay

Kirsty McKay

Study Type: Adult and Community
Study Location: The Roundhouse
Subject Studied: Teacher Training, Coaching and Mentoring

Engaging lectures from DCG inspired teaching assistant Kirsty

Former Derby College student Kirsty McKay has landed her ideal job as an elective home education adviser with Derbyshire County Council.

Her new role draws on the qualifications she gained at DCG and the transferable skills she’s acquired working as a teaching assistant, an education consultant and in adult community care.

Kirsty, who completed her level 4 higher level teaching assistant diploma with Derby College Group last July, previously worked as an education consultant for Claire’s School Solutions, in Belper.

Before that she was a TA at South Wingfield School for three years and prior to that, she spent 15 years employed as a health and social care assistant in the community. A registered vaccinator, she was also on the Covid-19 immunisation team.

Kirsty, now 35, always wanted to work with children so took the Childhood and Early Years level 2 at Ilkeston College after leaving school. A change of plan then led to a career in adult care, during which time she gained a level 2 in health and social care from DCG.

In 2020, Kirsty returned to her original career plan of working with children, completing level 3 and 4 TA qualifications at the Roundhouse.

She said: “The TA courses were really good. Nicole, our lecturer, didn’t expect us to write really long essays for our assignments. Instead, she asked us to produce posters, leaflets and booklets.

“It was a great way of engaging us, and, as TAs, it also gave us design and IT tools we could use when lesson planning in our classrooms.”

As an elective home education adviser, Kirsty will offer support, advice and guidance to Derbyshire parents who have chosen to home educate their children.

The TA courses were really good. Nicole, our lecturer, didn’t expect us to write really long essays for our assignments. Instead, she asked us to produce posters, leaflets and booklets. It was a great way of engaging us, and, as TAs, it also gave us design and IT tools we could use when lesson planning in our classrooms.