Sometimes I’m lucky enough to be invited to talk at conferences and events and all that edu-razzle dazzle. Sometimes I’m even lucky enough for the stars to align regarding the hugely complicated logistics of family life so I can actually attend. My very first one of these was for the UKFEchat from around three years ago in London and the last one was this year’s event in Manchester.

I have a little bit of a love-hate relationship with these events and conferences. I love the fact that I get a chance to speak to people in the FE sector. I love the fact that there are actual specific events for the FE. I love the fact that people take time to try and learn a little bit more about what they’re doing. And I love the lunches. But if someone’s made a huge planning error and I’m speaking, it can also be a little bit tricky because, more than anything, talking to a bunch of people involved in education fills me with terror and dread.

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Background: UKFEchat: Everything you need to know

It’s a weird one because I could stand up in front of a typical class and sally forth on any topic (whether it’s my specialism or not) for an hour and a half without even having to stretch first. However, when it comes to teachers there is no tougher audience (in a good way). Forthright, perceptive and incredibly good detectors of BS, they’ll let you know if you’re falling on your backside. Also, I feel a greater weight of responsibility because the advice I give is for folk who have been in the same position as I have and I don’t want anybody to take away anything that may make their job more difficult.

So there’s benefits and there’s underlying panic. This is probably why if you ever catch me at one of these events, it will be in the process of me pacing around, nervously yammering and twisting my keychain around my wrist as if there’s no tomorrow.

So although I love speaking to fellow professionals about the job, it can sometimes be a little bit of a heart-racing sweaty experience. And that’s just if you’re in the audience.

Meeting and greeting the students

One of the things that makes my day that bit more bearable when I’m speaking is that I also get to meet students. There’s usually a crack platoon of learners that have been shipped in to help out and although it’s a bit soppy, the thing I look forward to most are those quick, often awkward chats about how it’s going, what course they’re on, whether they’re getting paid to be here and whether someone could please please try and sort out my projector because I haven’t got a scooby.

Invariably, these students present themselves in an exemplary manner and have a confidence that I could never have dreamed of having when I was their age. They make the day a tiny bit less anxiety inducing and the contact is wonderful as it affirms the everyday excellence of those learning in the FE sector and makes the nerves very much worth it.  

Tom Starkey is an education writer, consultant and former further education lecturer