College announces appointment of WorldSkills UK Skills Coach

Sunderland College will be at the forefront of the North East skills revolution under the guidance of one of the world’s leading vocational educators and trainers.

Following the announcement that the College has been selected to join the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence pilot in partnership with education and skills charity NCFE, Jenna Wrathall Bailey MBE from WorldSkills UK has been allocated as High-Performance Skills Coach for its vocational courses. 

Bringing a wealth of experience to her role, Jenna has firmly established the UK‘s first-class reputation in Beauty Therapy as both UK Training Manager and Chief Expert for Euroskills with gold medal wins at the last three international World Skills competitions unmatched in any other skill. 

Achieving her childhood ambition of becoming a beauty therapist, Jenna was selected as the first ever competitor to represent the UK in the discipline at WorldSkills Montreal in 1999, achieving second place. 

Moving into education and training, she held teaching positions at Preston’s College and Ashford Sixth Form College and was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to vocational skills in 2012. 

As Chief Expert, Jenna worked with skills experts from over 80 countries to implement the latest global industry standards in the EuroSkills competition. 

Drawing on this international network, Jenna will work with the other High–Performance Skills Coaches to mainstream excellence through the delivery of a professional workforce training programme and use WorldSkills practices to influence change in technical standards across qualifications and assessment development within the UK.

Jenna, who is also Lead Judge for the WorldSkills UK beauty therapy competition, said: “There is no greater feeling for a tutor than to see your students build confidence in themselves and their skills, and that is exactly what we want to achieve with the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence. 

“By using our global insights to mainstream excellence in the classroom, we are equipping the next generation with the skillset and mindset to enable them to reach their full potential.” 

Utilising NCFE’s expertise in curriculum development and drawing on its unique insights into global skills systems, Jenna and WorldSkills UK will coach and mentor College staff to reinforce its world class practises and techniques in its teaching, learning and assessment. 

Jimmy Stobbart (construction), Matthew Hall (digital), Christopher Lindridge (engineering), Sharon Smith (barbering) and Richard Vart (catering and hospitality) will be coached and mentored by Jenna as part of the ‘Train the Trainer’ skills and knowledge development programme. 

Judith Quinn, Interim Deputy Principal for Curriculum, said: “We are delighted Jenna has been appointed as our High-Performance Skills Coach. 

“Our teaching practitioners are always working to advance their professional practice and technical teaching quality and the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence pilot provides the opportunity to raise the performance of our staff, students and apprentices. 

“The pilot and Jenna’s guidance will support our staff to gain high performing and industry relevant skills that will enhance their career development and progression in addition to providing excellence within technical education for our students.”