Heather P. Pollitt is project manager for the Headstart strand of Aim Higher in greater Manchester. Prior to taking on this full time role she was head of training and business documentation at Mantex Information Design. She studied English Language and Literature at Manchester University. Her postgraduate research was in the field of linguistic analysis and eighteenth century poetry. She was a member of the original symposium which devised the A Level Language syllabus for the Joint Matriculation Board (1982) and was formerly Head of English Language in a sixth form college. For the last eight years she has worked as a consultant in curriculum development for further and higher education, specialising in educational and business documentation.

Roy Johnson is web designer at Headstart and the author of many of its study modules. He began his first career as an industrial designer, but returned to education as a mature student and graduated in English and American Literature at Manchester University, where he was awarded a PhD for a study of the relationship between politics and the novel. He founded the Clifton Press in 1991 and began to develop its electronic publications in 1996. The author of several books on writing and study skills, he teaches for the Open University, works as an educational consultant, is the director of Mantex Information Design, and the editor of Writing & Computers. He also writes a blog on Art, Literature, and Design and emails from roy@mantex.co.uk

Hi, I?m Amanda Collins. I?ve been teaching, writing and developing materials, and delivering training since 1998 in a variety of HE and FE institutions, prisons, schools, and communities. For the past three years I have been working for Headstart, writing and developing learning modules for the website and Aimhigher. I am an Associate Lecturer at MMU and have a BA (Hons) in English, a PGCE, and an MSc in Addictive Behaviours. I also have my Girl Guides' cooking badge and various swimming certificates. I'm under the illusion that I play the guitar like Johnny Ramone, collect vinyl records, moonlight as a DJ, back dodgy horses, and plan to play the drums in the near future . . . so don't buy a house next door to me!

Kate Fisher graduated as a mature student in English and Philosophy from Manchester University. After working as a Tutor and Organiser in Adult Education, she now works free-lance as a Tutor, Trainer, Researcher and writer of educational materials. Kate acts as a tutor on Headstart, and also deals with accreditation issues with the Open College Network.

 

Debbie Hulme reports "I have been working with Headstart for several years, and delivered the first courses to Nursing students. This was really good fun. Now our very first Headstart students have graduated from University. This makes me feel proud of them and what they've achieved. They always tell me how Headstart helped them to cope with University, especially at the start of their course.

I've delivered Headstart in schools, 6th forms and with Access students. I try to show people that they can achieve their ambitions, and that Headstart can help to equip them with the skills they need.

All the tutors are really friendly, and we're all committed to helping people to progress in whatever area they have chosen. It's so nice when I bump into former Headstart students when I'm at the University, when I see how far they've come."

Andrew Fillis is an actor, director, and producer. Since graduating from the Arden School of Theatre in 1994, with a BA in Acting, Andrew has worked on stage and screen. In 1997, he formed The NRG Theatre Company. The company offers training, videos, workshops, and theatre-in-education events, as well as touring productions. Most recent tours include Burn This, Orphans and Fear of Fanny, which he also directed and appeared in. Andrew has taught in a variety of situations over the last ten years, from primary school children to students in Switzerland. Andrew is an ambassador for both The Variety Club of Great Britain and The Prince?s Trust. He is proud to have been involved with Headstart for 4 years.

Janice Lowe is Administrator for Headstart. Her career started with a two year course at Secretarial College and some interesting jobs such as managing an office in a Casino. Following a number of years at home with her children and fostering children with the Social Services, she decided to return to college. Janice went on to study Business and Information Technology at BSc level at Manchester Metropolitan University as a mature student. Janice has also had many posts in voluntary and community work such as - community policing, nursing auxiliary, animal welfare volunteer, fund raiser, and researcher.