Heather Wilks
Department of Social Work
Lecturer
Academic qualifications
Psychology Msc, Post Compulsory Education and Training PGCE, Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons), Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
I teach on our Health and Social Care course, with a strong focus on psychology, child development, behaviour, mental health and early years education. I have extensive experience in teaching and working with children, which helps me connect theory with real-life practice for my students.
I began my teaching career in secondary schools and sixth form settings, supporting students with behavioural, social, and emotional needs. Along the way, I鈥檝e taught a range of vocational and academic subjects, including Childcare (BTEC level), Health and Social Care (BTEC), Teaching Assistant (CACHE), Workskills (BTEC), and Psychology (BTEC). Before teaching, I worked in a nursery as an Early Years Graduate, which gave me hands-on experience in child development, safeguarding, and school readiness.
My professional experiences mean I鈥檓 well-equipped to bring both academic knowledge and real-world practice into the classroom.
I understand the challenges learners can face and I鈥檓 used to adapting my teaching so that everyone can engage and succeed. I鈥檓 also a former BTEC Standards Verifier and qualified assessor, which enables me to guide students on how to meet assessment standards, while developing the professional skills that employers expect. I also always make sure my lessons link research with current practice.
It鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to be able to make a real difference in my students鈥� lives, particularly those who have faced barriers to education or doubted their own abilities.
It鈥檚 a misconception that to work in our industry, you only need 鈥渃ommon sense鈥�. In reality, it鈥檚 a complex area of study involving research, theory, and critical thinking. There鈥檚 no one 鈥渞ight鈥� way to work with people, and professionals need to adapt and reflect constantly.