Guy Pottle

Guy Pottle, 21, is celebrating his success after winning the East Region Outstanding Learner Award and being a national finalist in the learndirect Achievement Awards. 

Guy has come a long way in a short time.  Since starting with the Every Step learndirect centre at HMP Chelmsford last November he has already gained three nationally recognised qualifications with learndirect and is working towards more.

Guy left school at 16 with no formal qualifications.  However he caught the learning bug soon after arriving at HMP Chelmsford, a category B prison and Young Offenders Institution in Essex.  He has completed Level 2 in literacy and numeracy as well as a Level 2 ITQ, a nationally recognised vocational IT qualification.  He is now working towards Level 3.

As well as his learndirect courses, Guy has also passed CLAiT qualifications and Level 1 football coaching and is currently working towards NVQ Level 3 in Advice and Guidance. 

Guy can’t praise his tutor, Centre Manager Stephen Orbell, enough – “Stephen is a really great teacher.  He gives me personal one-to-one attention, which I didn’t really get at school.  I’ve got ADHD, and Stephen understands what I need and supports me.  Sometimes the learndirect courses can be a bit tricky, but Stephen is a really good teacher with everyone.” 

Guy is also a fan of the learndirect way of learning.  He said: “with learndirect you can go at your own pace and not have to worry about rushing.  There’s less pressure on you, because if you don’t get it right first time, you can go back and repeat the section. The centre gives me a nice, quiet environment to learn in.”

In fact Guy is one of learndirect’s biggest advocates at the prison:  “I use a leaflet that I designed on the computer as part of my ITQ to advertise the centre on my wing.  I’m always telling the others here how great learndirect is and trying to get them to come and learn.”

Guy can be found in the centre most mornings, either studying or in his role as a learning mentor for other prisoners.  He has shown a talent for helping others with their learning and is now starting a teaching qualification. He said: “I want to continue in teaching or guidance once I leave prison, working with other ex-offenders.”

Stephen has seen a big change in Guy over the time he has been an inmate at HMP Chelmsford.  He said: “Guy has changed so much.  He was a very angry young man when he first arrived.  When I look at him now, I hardly recognise him as the same person.  We are all very proud of what he has achieved and we will continue to work with him once he leaves prison.  He plans to take more learndirect courses with Every Step once he gets out and hopefully pass his ECDL. Guy has impressed all the tutors at Every Step with his real commitment to turning his life around”

Commenting on his success in the Achievement Awards Guy said: “I’m really pleased to have received this award; it means so much to me.  My family and friends can see what I have achieved and can be proud and celebrate my success.”