Gary Nelson

Gary is an Assistant Principal at Hedleys College in Forest Hall.

Hedleys College is a specialist further education provider that supports 72 16-25 year olds, and Gary is responsible for leading Health and Safety at the college as a member of the leadership team.

He also works with Hedleys Beyond to secure job opportunities and work experience for students, and coordinates exciting projects such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Police Cadets.

Find out about Hedleys College >

How long have you worked at The Percy Hedley Foundation?

I began working at Hedleys College on 15/12/2014 after 10 years of working in a factory. It was a huge step for me as I had no experience of working with people with disabilities, no teaching experience, and no idea how things would work out. I always knew that I wanted to work with people where I could help create opportunities to make a positive difference to their lives.

What has your journey been within the Foundation to get to where you are today?

An opportunity came up where Hedleys College offered to fund spaces to enrol onto the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector course. This is where my teaching journey began. I began teaching whilst completing the course and later pursued a Post Compulsory Education and Training Degree (PCET).

After a year of teaching, I took on a Senior Tutor role, leading The Duke of Edinburgh Award and supporting students at Buckingham Palace to collect their gold award. As my journey continued, I sought new challenges and recently applied for the Assistant Principal role, which I am now proud to hold.

What does an average day look like for you? 

An average day for me differs and can change at the drop of a hat which I quite like.

More recently, I’ve taken the lead on Health and Safety at the college, updating and digitizing documents for better accessibility. I work closely with the leadership team to ensure our students receive quality services. I also collaborate with Hedleys Beyond and work experience coordinators to secure relevant job and volunteering opportunities for our students. My role involves building relationships with external partners like other colleges, wellbeing facilities, and employers to support our foundation. Additionally, I oversee projects like Disability Awareness, Police Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Key Fund, and Adaptive Surfing.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in your time at the Foundation?

The growth and increase in the number of students we support. Our service is in high demand due to the quality of work our dedicated staff team deliver daily.

Within Hedleys college, career progression is something I witness often, not only for myself but for others who wish to progress too. All the senior leadership team have progressed from either being support staff within groups or personal tutors which I find inspiring. This is a trait throughout college and follows on through many other pathways such as therapy, wellbeing, destinations managers etc.

What's your favourite part about your role?

My passion comes from leading initiatives like the Disability Awareness Programme, Police Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh Award, and more recently, The BRIT Challenge.

I’ve also led volunteering projects, including a partnership with EE, where their staff donated thousands of hours to help revamp our college and create a memorial garden for reflection.

I’ve built strong connections with Newcastle College, taking on Health and Social Care placement students, and sharing my journey to inspire them. I also oversee four volunteers from Dame Allans school, helping them gain experience in special educational needs, which I believe is vital for developing the next generation of education staff.

What is your greatest memory of working at the Foundation? 

Choosing just one greatest memory is tough, but two moments really stand out. First, supporting students to Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award – it was a turning point in my career, proving that no barrier is too big for our students.

Second, accompanying students to the 2023 British Diversity Awards at Grosvenor House, where they were finalists as the UK’s first disabled Police Cadets – an unforgettable experience representing our foundation in a room full of celebrities.

We’ve also been shortlisted again for our Disability Awareness Presentation, and I’m proud to see our students receiving such well-deserved recognition. These are just two stand-out moments from a catalogue of amazing memories I have at the Foundation.

A piece of advice to someone joining the Foundation? 

For anyone thinking of joining the Percy Hedley family I would say, do it!

If you are motivational, caring, passionate, thrive for more, have a desire to support people to reach their potential, have a passion for education and are willing to dedicate 100% time and energy to our amazing students then this is your calling. This isn’t just a job; it is a way of life!

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