Nerissa Roberts, Curriculum Lead for Adult ESOL at Oldham College, received the ‘Excellence in Teaching’ Award, sponsored by the Education Training Foundation (ETF), at this year’s Get the Nation Learning Awards. As the professional body for the sector, ETF not only celebrates excellence but also supports educators through professional standards and development opportunities, ensuring teaching quality continues to rise across adult education. The awards ceremony, delivered at the Barbican in London on 4 November, took place within Get the Nation Learning Week, part of the campaign led by Learning and Work Institute to shine a light on the people and organisations supporting lifelong learning and its transformative power.
In this blog, Dr Katerina Kolyva, ETF CEO, reflects on ETF’s Excellence in Teaching webinar following the ceremony, in which Katerina interviewed Nerissa about her teaching journey.
In our lovely conversation (please do sit down to watch it with a cuppa when you have a moment) of 6 November, Nerissa shared her remarkable journey and insights into adult education.
Our discussion began with Emily Jones, from the Learning and Work Institute, sharing why they run the Get the Nation Learning campaign, citing the importance of lifelong learning and the campaign’s mission to reverse the decline in adult education participation. There are now over 130 organisations signed up to the Get the Nation Learning Charter, so the campaign is gaining momentum, showcasing the transformative power of education for individuals and communities alike.
Nerissa’s story absolutely exemplifies this transformation and her commitment to growth is underpinned by her ETF membership, which reinforces her belief in reflective practice and continuous improvement. Starting as an ESOL tutor, she progressed to programme leader and now leads a faculty.
Her motivation? The learners themselves. She spoke passionately about the diversity of her students – from those with no prior education to professionals like doctors and lawyers – and the importance of building confidence and inclusion in the classroom.
Inclusion, for Nerissa, begins with listening. She prioritises student voice meetings and fosters a welcoming departmental culture. Her approach includes tailoring materials to local contexts, using colloquialisms, and encouraging experiential learning outside the classroom. This not only builds language skills but also confidence and community engagement.
One of the standout aspects of Nerissa’s work is her commitment to embedding employability into ESOL teaching. She collaborates with organisations like Oldham Council’s ‘Get Oldham Working’ and Action Together to provide CV workshops, interview preparation, and volunteering opportunities. Her learners benefit from real-world experiences, including guaranteed NHS job interviews through a bespoke community interpreting course.
Professional development is another cornerstone of Nerissa’s success. She credits ETF’s ‘Leading from the Middle’ programme as life-changing and continues to foster peer learning and reflective practice within her team. Her philosophy is simple: the best CPD often comes from within the room, through shared experiences and collaborative resource design.
Nerissa also addressed the challenges of supporting neurodivergent learners, especially those with undiagnosed needs. Her team uses visuals, chunked learning, and movement-based activities to create inclusive environments. She emphasised the importance of trauma-informed training and staff wellbeing, introducing initiatives like ‘Mindful Monday’ to support her team emotionally.
Creativity remains central to Nerissa’s practice. One memorable project involved an art exhibition at Oldham Gallery, showcasing photographs of learners and the few belongings they brought to the UK. This initiative fostered storytelling, cultural exchange, and community connection.
As for what’s next, Nerissa hopes to further integrate her art background with ESOL teaching and pursue new leadership opportunities. Her vision includes becoming a College of Sanctuary and launching menopause awareness workshops for learners – continuing her mission to break barriers and empower through education.
Nerissa’s journey illustrates the impact of ETF’s mission: empowering educators through structured professional development, recognition, and a strong community of practice. By investing in teachers, ETF helps unlock the transformative power of lifelong learning for learners everywhere. Her journey is also a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and community in adult education. Her work not only transforms lives but also sets a benchmark for excellence in teaching.