We are proud to celebrate the success of Olivia Glen, based at Progress Schools Tees Valley, who has recently completed her Level 3 teaching assistant apprenticeship and achieved a distinction grade.
Olivia joined Progress Schools Tees Valley in March 2024, bringing with her a strong desire to build a meaningful, hands-on career in education. After completing AS Levels, Olivia briefly attended university. During this time, she realised that a traditional academic route was not the right fit for her and that she wanted a more practical pathway where she could learn through real-life experience.
With a strong interest in supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities and wanting to work within alternative provision settings, Olivia chose the apprenticeship route to gain both a recognised qualification and valuable on-the-job experience.
She quickly became a valued member of the school team, consistently demonstrating professionalism, resilience, and a genuine commitment to supporting young people. Combining structured learning with hands-on practice enabled her to grow in confidence in the classroom, deepen her understanding of the teaching assistant role, and build strong, positive relationships with both learners and colleagues.
During the final stages of the programme, Olivia worked closely with her tutor to prepare for her End-Point Assessment. This included completing her portfolio, taking part in mock observations and professional discussions, and gaining a clear understanding of the standards required to achieve the highest possible grade. With focused preparation and determination, Olivia approached her assessment with confidence and clarity.
Her hard work and dedication were rewarded with a distinction grade, a fantastic achievement that reflects her commitment to personal development and her positive impact within a specialist education setting. Olivia’s success has also been recognised by senior leaders, including being awarded the “Proudly Passionate” award at The Progress Groups annual conference.
Olivia’s journey highlights the power of apprenticeships in creating meaningful career pathways, particularly within SEND and alternative provision. Her story is a strong example of how apprenticeships support individuals to build confidence, develop specialist skills, and make a real difference in education.
Alongside Olivia’s achievement, we are delighted to celebrate further success across our Level 3 teaching assistant apprenticeship. To date, four apprentices have successfully completed the programme, all achieving distinction and merit grades, a testament to the dedication of our learners and the apprenticeship programme.
Inspired by Olivia’s journey? Our Level 3 teaching assistant apprenticeship with us combines hands-on experience with structured learning to support teaching assistants to build confidence, develop specialist skills, and achieve outstanding outcomes. Whether you’re an employer or an aspiring teaching assistant, find out how this apprenticeship could support your next step in education.
