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The team behind Aldridge Adult Learning

We place teaching, learning and the support of learners at the heart of everything we do here at AAL. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you are given all the support you need to achieve your goals. From your first point of contact all the way through to your time in class and your next steps we will be with you every step of the way to offer encouragement, advice and guidance. Meet some of the core team below who are dedicated to your success:

Nick Fenn

Principal

I have a passion for new experiences, in particular travelling in order to encounter new cultures. I have worked in Greece, the Czech Republic and Japan where I developed my passion for education as an EFL (English as Foreign Language) teacher. Whenever I travel abroad I always try to speak a bit of the language and check to see if I can indulge two of my great passions by going to a gig or watching a local football match. My travels have taught me that everybody’s life story matters and we all thrive best when we open ourselves up to different perspectives.

Michael Buckman

Curriculum Manager

A printer for 20 years, 10 years in Hospitality and 20 years in Further and Adult Education,  I am the Curriculum Manager and my job is to ensure that all the classes have a teacher, a room, a time and a class of students and everyone knows where and when this is. Once the course has started I then make sure that the course runs successfully monitoring attendance and progress of students. I work closely with the Principal Nick Fenn to plan the following year’s courses so that we can produce a prospectus for September courses by the beginning of June.

I am a keen cyclist and often travel to Europe to try the mountain roads that professional cyclists seem to cycle up so easily!

Michele Ponting

Access and Accreditation Manager

I have been teaching various courses in the last few years. If you want to go to university and need advice or want to join one of our access courses, get in touch and I will be happy to help.

Dawn Lorec

Apprenticeship Manager

I have been working with Teaching Assistants for over 20 years, tutoring and providing advice and guidance for those completely new to working in schools to the more experienced Teaching Assistants who want a qualification that reflects their knowledge and skills.  At AAL we have Teaching Assistant qualifications from the L2 Award in Support Work in Schools right up to the L4 Advanced Practitioner qualification.

I also work with apprentices, helping to support them into the world of work whilst gaining nationally recognized qualifications.  Outside of work I’m a lover of the sea and the beautiful South Downs that surround us.  I love all that is Brighton and Hove, and a perfect Saturday for me would be sitting outside a café watching the world go by and enjoying the eclectic mix of nationalities and personalities that make our city such an amazing place to be.

If you are interested in becoming an apprentice or an employer looking to take on an apprentice, please get in touch and I would be happy to help.

Tracy Briant

Senior Curriculum Administrator

I joined Adult Education about 5 years ago; after 20 years at Legal & General.

I have been married for 27 years and have 3 wonderful children. I have collected vinyl records since a teenager and so has my husband.  We recently had an extension on our house and it allowed us to then dedicate a room to our records, the kids think we are both mad!

Sue Akehurst

Finance Administrator

I have worked for Adult Learning for 19 years and am now working as the finance administrator. I have been married for over 30 years and we have 3 lovely grown-up children and 4 beautiful grandchildren with another one on the way.  I enjoy watching Brighton and Hove Albion and attend as many home matches as I can.

Wendy Fletcher

Data Administrator

I have worked in Adult Learning in its various guises for 28 years and am now working as the data administrator.  I am married with two lovely grown-up children.  I am an avid reader and currently have four Kindles.

Sarah Amram

Curriculum  Administrator

I am the curriculum administrator at Aldridge Adult Learning and have been teaching various courses during my time here. When you call the college you will probably speak to me first, so I am looking forward to seeing how I can help you.