5 Minutes with

Tracy Aust

Principal of West Thames College

I’ve been at West Thames College for 23 years. I started as a teacher, teaching A Level Accounts, Economics and Business, having completed 3 years in a Sixth Form College prior to this, when I first qualified.

I never intended to stay but 23 years later, here I am.

What’s kept me here is really simple: our students and staff, who are great. Alongside this, I’ve been lucky enough to have been provided with so many opportunities to grow, develop and take on new challenges. And all of this is against a backdrop of a set of values and principles which completely resonate with me. They are not just a set of words, it’s how we as a College work, day in, day out and this is reflected in our behaviours and the respect we have for one another.

What is your Business?

We are a successful, vibrant college of further and higher education. Each year we support around 6,000 students. We offer provision across 24 different curriculum areas, aged 14 upwards from pre-entry level all the way to level 6. We are a hugely diverse College and incredibly inclusive, both of which we are very proud of and actively celebrate. West Thames

Our vocational courses are taught by industry professionals.

We have excellent links with employers and a core strength of the College is our collaborative working through our partnerships.

We are very proud of our state-of-the-art facilities and workshops at our main Isleworth campus and at our Skills + Logistics Centre in Feltham, both of which provide excellent learning environments.

Our students are very successful, with very high achievement rates and excellent progression routes to their chosen destinations.

We help our students to fulfil their dreams.

3 words to describe yourself

Honest, Fair, Driven

Ideal customer

ALL of our students. Recognising and celebrating the fact that we are all different. Whatever their starting point, we want each and every one of our students to have an outstanding learning experience with us, enabling them to achieve, progress and fulfil their ambitions.

Biggest achievement

On a personal front, being a mum to two great boys. On a professional front, it was definitely becoming Principal of West Thames. Being a Principal was not something I aspired to but I wouldn’t want to do this role anywhere else.

Biggest gripe

Lack of funding to do what we need to, which is: a) supporting our students and b) ability to reward our staff in this critical sector for their incredible hard work. At the very least, bringing it in line with other education sectors e.g. schools, HE.

Inspiration

To do the best job I can do in whatever I’m doing, whether that’s at work, personally or socially. I definitely get inspiration from my mum who has been a fantastic role model.

Philosophy in Business

Doing the right thing and acting with integrity. It’s really important to lead by example.

Always putting students at the heart of what we do. When it comes to decision making, it’s asking the question about whether that decision has a positive impact on students? If not, then we have to question why we are doing it.

Sporting Hero

Jonny Wilkinson CBE– former rugby union player

He played for my home team – Newcastle Falcons as well as England, the British & Irish Lions and then Toulon.

He is best known for scoring the winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Why? – my love for rugby and I used to coach mini-rugby and he once did a private training session on a beach for our mini rugby team on their coming of age tour in Toulon in France

Such a good role model with his commitment, attitude, hard work and his interaction with his fans.

Biggest tip for success

Do something you are passionate and enthusiastic about

Be honest, don’t underestimate the importance of good communication. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, we never stop learning.