logo Sunderland College
  • Information for Parents
  • Term dates
  • Open Events
  • Vacancies
  • Contact us
Apply Now
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Course search
    • School Leaver
      • Vocational Courses
      • A-Levels
      • T Levels
      • Apprenticeships
      • Which route is right for you?
      • SEN Local Offer
      • Information for Parents
    • Courses for adults
      • Access to Higher Education
        • How to fund your study
          • How to apply
          • Repaying the loan
          • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Professional qualifications
      • Skills & qualifications
      • Skills for Employment
      • Distance learning
      • Essential Skills
      • Learn for fun
    • Higher Education
      • Benefits of higher education
      • Higher education qualifications explained
      • Choosing your subject & course
      • How to fund your study
      • Events
    • ESOL
    • Institute of Technology
  • Apprenticeships
    • Apprenticeship vacancies
    • Information for employers
  • Experience
    • Meet our students
    • Sports Academies
    • Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme
    • Skills competitions
      • Events
    • Our facilities
    • Expert & friendly support
    • AccessAble guides
  • Employers
  • The college
    • Our people
      • Our staff
    • Our Campuses
    • Our partners
    • Student Union
    • News
   
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. #IWD2021: Interview with Toni Rhodes
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Course search
    • School Leaver
      • Vocational Courses
      • A-Levels
      • T Levels
      • Apprenticeships
      • Which route is right for you?
      • SEN Local Offer
      • Information for Parents
    • Courses for adults
      • Access to Higher Education
        • How to fund your study
          • How to apply
          • Repaying the loan
          • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Professional qualifications
      • Skills & qualifications
      • Skills for Employment
      • Distance learning
      • Essential Skills
      • Learn for fun
    • Higher Education
      • Benefits of higher education
      • Higher education qualifications explained
      • Choosing your subject & course
      • How to fund your study
      • Events
    • ESOL
    • Institute of Technology
  • Apprenticeships
    • Apprenticeship vacancies
    • Information for employers
  • Experience
    • Meet our students
    • Sports Academies
    • Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme
    • Skills competitions
      • Events
    • Our facilities
    • Expert & friendly support
    • AccessAble guides
  • Employers
  • The college
    • Our people
      • Our staff
    • Our Campuses
    • Our partners
    • Student Union
    • News
  • Information for Parents
  • Term dates
  • Open Events
  • Vacancies
  • Contact us
Apply Now
Sunderland College Logo

#IWD2021: Interview with Toni Rhodes

Our people

Our people are dedicated to transforming lives and providing an outstanding experience to students.

Read more

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

We spoke to our new Principal Toni Rhodes about her career so far, the challenges she has faced, who inspired her and why it is important to #ChoosetoChallenge inequality, call out bias, question stereotypes, and help forge an inclusive world.

How did you get to where you are today?

When I left school I went straight into administration before going into Social Care. In my mid- twenties I decided to go to University, I was given my first role in a College as a Placement Officer, I have progressed undertaking various roles from a Teacher, Curriculum Manger, Associate Principal, Executive Director and Vice Principal.

I have always continued to study during this time and following my Degree I went on to study a Master’s Degree, a level 8 in Leadership and became a Senior Fellow of the HEA.

I have also had some great experiences for example achieving Ofsted Outstanding, supporting other Colleges to improve and winning Beacon awards. I became a Beacon Assessor which I continue to do and more recently I’ve been appointed as the Principal for Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form.

Who inspires you?

I have met many great female leaders during my career in Education that have inspired me, I couldn’t narrow it down to one person.

What have been the biggest challenges you have overcome?

I think the biggest challenge was when I went to University, my children were only one and three at that time and I worked nights in Social Care, sometimes I didn’t think I could do it but I got through it.

Why did you want to work in education?

I didn’t choose to work in Education originally, I wanted to be a Social Worker but the more I studied and shared information with peers the more I enjoyed supporting others and made a decision that teaching was what I wanted to do.

Do you think women in your profession find it difficult to advance in their careers?

I have never felt I had any difficulty because I am a woman but more the difficulty of having a young family and trying to do both at times has been challenging and I have often seen that for some woman they have felt that they would struggle to progress with young children.

I always say don’t let anything ever stop you pursuing your goals.

Why is it important to #ChoosetoChallenge?

It is always important to make sure everyone has equal opportunities and challenge where you feel this is not happening, if you hold strong values you would never want to see anyone else disadvantaged.

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

People always ask me this question, I really don’t have any hobbies as my spare time is taken up with football runs and after school clubs like many parents.

I do enjoy walking with friends but it’s probably more the social time that I enjoy than the walking.

When you began your career, did you imagine you would be a leader?

Yes I did, well I imagined it, I’m not sure if I thought I would, I have always been very goal driven so knew what I wanted to achieve and was always looking for what else I could do to support that.

Sometimes it changed but I have always felt if you commit to something and set a clear goal, give it 100% then you will achieve it.

How do you inspire your team?

By being passionate about the positive impact we have on our learners, but also it is about being authentic and supporting each other. If people believe and trust the journey that you are taking them on as a leader, then they will go on it with you.

College updates

View all updates
  • College hosts inspirational careers fairs

    Sunderland College students were given an insight into the opportunities available to them when they leave college as part of National Careers Week.

    March 18, 2022

    Read more
  • New investment to transform skills education and training at City Camp...

    A significant investment at Sunderland College is set to support the future generation of highly skilled engineers and business professionals

    March 3, 2022

    Read more
  • City youngsters join forces to rise to the climate crisis

    Young people from Sunderland and its twin city of Essen have joined forces to help their cities achieve the joint goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

    February 25, 2022

    Read more

98% of our students progress to a positive destination

(*Destination data for Sunderland College students aged 16-18, academic year 2017/18).

Why choose Sunderland College?

Our achievement rates are well above the national average.

We are the College of the Year.

(*Top college nationally for BTECs, Pearson 2019)

100% of our HND and HNC students progressed to employment or further study. 

(*Destination data, academic year 2016/17, HNC 19+)

We have recently invested £50 million in our facilities. 

Our courses Our facilities
Sunderland College Sunderland College Logo Sunderland College Logo Dark

Bede Campus, City Campus, Washington Campus

  • 0300 770 8000
  • info@sunderlandcollege.ac.uk
  • Courses
  • Experience
  • The college
  • Apprenticeships
  • Employers
  • Governance
  • Vacancies
  • Moodle
  • Staff Email
  • Student Email
  • Cookie Information
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy and legal information
  • Complaints Procedure
  • Procurement

Bede Campus, Durham Road, Sunderland SR3 4AH

Facebook Twitter