Today we’re celebrating the women who shape our colleges, our learners and our community — and we’re proud to spotlight one of them:
Charmaine Bedward, Head of Section for GCSE and Functional Skills Mathematics.
Charmaine’s journey with Sandwell College began decades ago, when she volunteered as a Maths tutor for adult learners. What started as a local opportunity to help others quickly became a calling.
Now leading the very department where she first began, Charmaine continues to bring energy, empathy and excellence to everything she does.
Why did you choose to work at the College?
I first came to Sandwell College decades ago as a volunteer maths tutor for adult learners at the old campus. It was local, it mattered, I quickly realised I loved helping people gain confidence and walk away with a qualification, despite their Maths anxiety. Somewhere between explaining fractions for the hundredth time and seeing that lightbulb moment, I decided to go back to university and do a PGCE so I could do this properly. Fast forward many years later and I’m now Head of Section for the very same area. I’ve genuinely never felt the urge to leave – if it isn’t broken, there’s really no need to fix it.
How would you describe working for the College?
Working at Sandwell College is rewarding and varied. No two days are the same, that’s part of the appeal. While there are challenges, they are balanced by the opportunity to make a difference. The real highlight for me has always been the people. Having worked in a few staffrooms over the years, these spaces have become places to be myself, share how I’m really feeling and release tension without judgement. Many of those colleagues have become friends for life. I genuinely enjoy what I do and feel fulfilled working here. I’d like to think that this energy is reflected in our learners.
What’s one thing you love about working here?
Working with a team that delivers some of the best results in the West Midlands for a cohort of this size is so rewarding. But what really makes it meaningful is the young people. They can be typical teenagers one moment then the next they’re dealing with pressures that would test some adults. Seeing them grow, push through and achieve is what keeps me coming back.
#IWD2026 #GiveToGain #EmpowerOurPeople
