Running courses that produce results: The City Lit team from left: Rachel Everard, Carolyn Cheasman, Peter Davies (Principal of City Lit), Jan Logan and Anne Watson. Photo: Liora Ives

City Lit speech therapy gets top grade
By the City Lit speech therapy team

The speech therapy department at City Lit is well-known as a centre of excellence in adult stammering therapy. Earlier this year its reputation was officially recognised by the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) who awarded the department a grade 1 - outstanding.

ALI is the adult equivalent of the schools inspectorate OFSTED. They had a particular interest in inspecting speech therapy as it is unique in adult education. Because of the specialist nature of the City Lit work they did not have an inspector with the necessary expertise and took the highly unusual step of finding a specialist speech and language therapist, Carolyn Desforges, to co-inspect.

The final report summarised the findings as follows: very good achievements, very good/outstanding teaching and learning, extensive range of courses, outstanding retention rates and outstanding leadership and management. It commented on the increased self confidence of students, with particular reference to many students who are successful in getting work after the course. As a result of the outstanding grade the team have been nominated for a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize.

The experience was somewhat gruelling. All therapists were twice observed teaching different courses, primarily the first few days of an intensive course. City Lit students were very much involved in the process and the high grade reflects the team work between therapists and students. One part of the process was a meeting between the inspectors and a group of previous and current students. This is what Jeremy Hanshaw, one of the students, had to say:

"I was very fortunate to be asked by the speech therapy team at the City Lit to be involved in an inspection earlier in the year. At first, I was a bit anxious as I did not want to let the side down! I then realised that all I needed to do was tell the truth and shame the devil, and everything would be okay. When thinking about the course I saw the benefits with fresh eyes. The inspectors seemed very interested in the way students were prepared for the course, the information we were given prior to enrolment, and access to facilities for people with disabilities. This made me aware of many of the things that were asked of me in the interview, which I did not even consider as relevant at the time. It shows that there is a lot more going on that one gives credit for.

"The most interesting part of this exercise was when the inspectors wanted to focus on life skills: what we had learnt on the course that we had taken away with us and integrated into our lives. I was suddenly aware of how much there was, and again I had taken so much of this for granted, so seamless was this positive process. A particularly memorable example is self-advertising, where I learnt to tell people openly about my stammer. I suddenly realised that if I am open about that which I have always tried to hide, there is nothing to hide and even less to fear. The inspectors were clearly (and understandably) impressed with how I applied this therapy technique to real life. So was I. I am now pursuing the job I aspired to at a wonderfully inclusive modern university, proudly stammering and self-advertising all over the world in my new role as international officer. Good for the City Lit. And good for the inspectors for making me more consciously aware of the progress I have made."

From the Autumn 2007 issue of 'Speaking Out', page 13

See also:
City Lit courses
A royal occasion - award of Queen's Anniversary Prize to City Lit speech therapy