Meet the Team: Georgia Smith

Welcome to the latest edition of our Meet the Team blog series, where we introduce the dedicated professionals who support our learners every day and help create a positive learning experience across Northumberland Skills.

This time, we're pleased to introduce Georgia Waterston, our English Lecturer. With more than a decade of experience teaching in Further Education, Georgia is passionate about helping learners build confidence, overcome challenges and achieve more than they thought possible.

Working with learners from a range of backgrounds, Georgia is committed to creating a supportive and engaging environment where everyone feels able to succeed. She takes pride in helping learners who may have struggled with English in the past develop confidence in their abilities and recognise their potential. 

In this blog, we'll explore Georgia's journey into teaching, what inspires her as a lecturer, and how she helps our learners to develop the skills, confidence and self-belief they need to take their next steps.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Northumberland Skills.

I’ve been teaching English in Further Education for 13 years and have worked with learners from the age of 16 years through to adults. As an English Lecturer at Northumberland Skills, I teach GCSE English and Functional Skills, predominantly to 16-to-18-year-olds. My passion is helping learners who may have struggled with English in the past to see that they can succeed. Watching learners arrive with very little confidence and leave believing in their own ability, ready for their next steps, is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

What makes Northumberland Skills different from other training providers?

For me, what makes Northumberland Skills different is the people. There’s a real sense of teamwork, with everyone working together to give learners the best possible experience. We don’t just focus on qualifications; we focus on preparing learners for their next step by developing the skills and behaviours they’ll need for their future.

Our vocational lecturers play a huge part in this by embedding professional behaviours and work readiness into everything they do, creating a positive culture across the organisation. They also understand how important English and maths are for progressing into apprenticeships and employment, so learners receive consistent encouragement from every member of staff. Everyone understands the end goal and how each part of the programme helps learners achieve it.

What attracted you to teaching English?

What attracted me to teaching English was seeing the impact it can have on someone's future. Many of our learners have had difficult experiences with English at school and arrive believing they can't succeed. I enjoy helping them change that mindset, build their self-belief and realise they're capable of achieving far more than they expected.

Whether it's progressing to further study, securing an apprenticeship or employment, or simply feeling more confident communicating with others, it's incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey and see learners leave with the skills and confidence they'll use long after they've left the classroom.

What’s one thing learners are always surprised by in your lessons?

Many learners are surprised to discover that my lessons are engaging, supportive and closely linked to real-life situations, current topics and their vocational studies. This helps them see the value of English beyond the classroom.

Alongside this, I still develop the writing, reading and exam skills needed to succeed, but I do it in a way that learners can relate to. They quickly discover that English isn't just about passing an exam. It's about developing communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will support them in further study, employment and everyday life.

How is learning English here different from school?

Learning English here is much more individual. I take the time to get to know each learner, understand their goals and tailor my support to help them succeed. Everyone brings different experiences of English with them, so my approach is about meeting learners where they are.

I make English relevant by linking lessons to learners' vocational studies and the things that matter to them, showing how the skills they're developing apply both within their vocational area and in everyday life. I also encourage learners to suggest topics, books, films and current issues they'd like to explore, and wherever possible I build these into lessons. This helps make lessons more engaging and encourages learners to become more involved in their own learning.

Find out more about our English and Maths study options here.