Staff Story – Mick Noblett

Mick Noblett is the Vice Principal for Curriculum (Delivery and Planning), and has worked at Preston College for over 25 years. He is also a college alumni, having studied A Levels from 1991 to 1993. Here is his story…

“I studied A Levels in Sport Studies, English Language and Literature and Communication Studies in the early 90s. I remember some amazing teachers including Maureen Lloyd, Geoff Snailham and John Morgan all having a positive impact on me, with their teaching styles heavily influencing my own when I became a Lecturer at the College.

I remember my time as a student at the college as being a really positive and very social experience, I made amazing friends who I still see today; we had a fantastic football team, won many trophies and I was also lucky to go on some memorable trips and visits.”

After leaving Preston College, Mick graduated from Northumbria University with a Degree in Sport Studies before travelling to America to coach football for a six month period; igniting his passion for teaching. On his return to Preston, he volunteered at Preston College to gain some valuable teaching experience before being successful in being appointed to a Lecturer in Sport role in September 1997.

“In September 97, I started working as a full time Lecturer in Sport. I taught A Level PE, BTEC Sport and an NVQ programme in Sport, working with a diverse range of fantastic students. Geoff Snailham, my former teacher was now my manager and my mentor, whilst I was lucky to work in a staffroom full of talented teachers who helped me to develop and shape my approach to teaching.

As part of my role, I organised a number of international trips which allowed me to see first hand how education could be transformative for young people. I remember one outdoor adventure trip to France that massively changed the life of one young student. This individual had never really engaged in education before enrolling at College, he had an unstable family life and initially presented with some challenging behavioural issues. The trip transformed him, he improved socially and it opened his eyes to the broad range of opportunities that were available to him. He came back a different person, worked really hard and after three years at College, he started what has been a long and successful career in sports coaching.”

As a teacher I had found a real passion, I enjoyed the opportunity to be creative in delivery, act as a role model to my students and ultimately to support them in developing and progressing to either University or employment, where I know that so many have thrived.“

Over the years, Preston College has changed significantly. There have been some challenging periods based on funding changes in the Further Education sector, whilst the College has also enjoyed significant success in terms of student achievement and progression. Whilst the college experienced the changing landscape, Mick’s role also evolved;

“After a couple of years of teaching I began to progress into management roles, initially becoming a team leader, a Head of Provision and then the Head of Sport, which at the time was my dream job. As the College began to experience change, so too did my role, and I gained new experiences leading other areas of curriculum including Hospitality and Tourism, Public Services, Construction and Engineering. My developing leadership expertise led to my first Executive Leadership Team role as Assistant Principal, before becoming Vice Principal in 2017. My current Vice Principal role is both challenging and exciting, enabling me to lead Curriculum, Engagement and Marketing at the College.“

“During my time here, I have experienced significant change. The campus has evolved with the creation of some fantastic learning spaces. Technology has developed at a rate faster than anybody could have foreseen, dramatically changing the way we operate as a College, and influencing our approaches to Teaching, Learning and Assessment. Working to meet student needs has remained constant, with a strong emphasis on supporting every individual to make positive progress and to achieve their qualifications.

Regardless of change though, as a teacher and a leader, the one thing that remains central to my approach is people, and working tirelessly to ensure that the College continually evolves in order to ensure a positive experience for our students and our staff.

I am a big believer that in spite of the technological revolution, and in spite of the amazing facilities that we have on campus, when you boil education down, it is simply about people inspiring other people to learn, to develop and to achieve. I’m proud to work in a College that provides so many wonderful opportunities for our community, and one that is true to its vision of ‘transforming lives through education.”