Student Entitlement Manager Sue Porter has retired after 23 years’ service. She will be missed not just by College staff, but by the many students she has supported over the years.

 

Sue’s understanding of student needs may have something to do with her own route into studying. She joined the College as a student at the age of 37. After successfully completing an Access Course, she discovered that learning was something she really enjoyed and went on to take a degree in History at North London Poly – spending some time back at the College undertaking her teaching practice.

 

Sue says of her own student experience: “The Access course at City of Westminster College was a huge second chance for me – especially as I had two school age children - so I know first hand how other adult returners feel. But as someone who didn’t do well at school myself, I can also empathise with many of our 16-year-olds.”

 

Sue began her staff career at the College in 1986, initially as a Careers Guidance Education Lecturer and then subsequently as Head of School and Deputy Director. Over the years she has been a tireless campaigner for disadvantaged students and an influential advocate for the ‘Learner Voice’. She has always gone the extra mile for students – whether it be through managing the Education Otherwise programme or teaching gardening to Special Needs students.

 

In her role of Student Entitlement Manager she has successfully brought together a range of staff in order to co-ordinate the support offer to students, enhance the tutorial function and build on student enrichment activities. And as ‘Queen of the At Risk Strategy’, she has developed a highly successful cross-College initiative to identify and assist students at risk of dropping out.

 

We wish Sue a very happy retirement and thank her for the huge contribution she has made to enriching College life – and the lives of so many of our students.