Graham Robertson

“I have been working in Education for more than 26 years. I came into teaching because I believed that learning can change lives. I’ve seen that belief borne out on a number of occasions but never more so than since joining Newlands Junior College. NJC caters for the percentage of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who deserve a better future.

I’ve met young people whose lives have been blighted by personal tragedy who have become angry and belligerent. I’ve also seen the same young people blossom into positive students, capable of sitting the highest of academic qualifications and moving into real employment. I’ve seen a young man full of potential that the system had labelled as a challenge who had come to view authority as “the enemy” and, over the course of a year in NJC find out that there are adults who are interested in them and equipped to support them into positive destinations.

What Newlands Junior College does best is to treat students as individuals and to work with them to foster self belief and self confidence – to empower young people with a positive world view and to give them the tools to succeed. One of our students showed his entrepreneurial skills to make a bit of spare cash on the side – he did what he was good at; working outdoors and mowing people’s lawns. Newlands Junior College have now capitalized on that initiative and secured a job for that student with Land Engineering.

It’s easy for me to say that Newlands Junior College is the most rewarding place I have ever worked. That reward comes from seeing young people’s lives change for the better. Is there any better outcome?”

Douglas Clark

“The appeal of NJC for me was to work with the type of students for whom mainstream comprehensive schooling hadn’t worked. It’s the relationships that we were able to build with the students that have been the key to our success in getting them to a positive destination. Whilst our physical environment and IT provision is ‘statea of the art’ at NJC, without these relationships, it would all have been worthless.

It has been gratifying to work with the young people, watching them arrive typically as demotivated, unhappy and with little idea of what their futures might hold, with no awareness of their own ability to becoming happy, determined and work-ready young people. It has been a privilege to watch them grow and it’s helping them on this journey that motivates me at NJC everyday. Watching from the side as they make their way beyond our doors is the next exciting chapter for myself and the rest of the staff at NJC.”

Megan Lynch

“Before I came to NJC, I was really struggling in school. I didn’t like many classes and I didn’t like many teachers. I don’t think many of my teachers liked having me in my class and I was in trouble quite a bit. My guidance teacher spoke to me about NJC and the possibility of going there. I thought they just wanted rid of me, but when I saw Newlands, it just looked amazing.

It was tough when I started. There was lots of work to do, college courses to go to and Outward Bound experiences. This was new to me and it challenged me quite a bit, but the staff were really different from school. The teachers listened to me and for once I felt like my opinion mattered.

I started to believe I could be a success – achieving my academic qualifications and pushing myself. I didn’t think learning was for me a couple of years ago, but now I’m going to college to study and I can’t wait to get stuck in. I am determined to be successful now.”

Chris Baillie

“I was a bit of a dodgy character at my old school. I know they were pleased to see the back of me when I went to Newlands. I misbehaved in classes I wasn’t interested in and I didn’t get enough of the classes I was interested in. Some of my teachers just didn’t seem that interested in me.

When I went to Newlands, it took me a while to realise that I needed a kick up the backside. Now I know what I have to do to be successful, after getting my head down and taking things seriously, I’ve achieved what I couldn’t have in my old school.

I’ve worked hard at Newlands Junior College and after passing all my qualifications, I’m looking forward to starting my apprenticeship with Ferguson Marine.”