Humans of Warwick - Sam Grierson

Sam Grierson

Quality Review and Enhancement Manager

“Everything I do here is about making a difference for our students.”

“I’m Coventry born and bred but never saw myself as being able to study at Warwick. Not because I didn’t feel clever enough, it was more my circumstances that I thought would keep me away.

I’ve lived on my own since the age of 16, spending time in a few different countries. My secondary education took place in Jamaica, New York and England and by the time I came home at 15, life was difficult, and I could see that I was going to be a mature student. I just thought that I wouldn’t have the grades to get into Warwick, so I chose Leicester to do my undergraduate degree. I was determined to work here one day though. I said to myself back then that maybe, towards the end of my career I would work here. I never really believed that it would happen. But here I am, and I’ll tell you how I got here later!

One thing that’s important to know about me and my journey is that I’m a mum. My children mean the absolute world to me, and I’ve brought them up while working, studying and navigating my own life. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, obviously there have been difficulties and challenges but I’m very proud of both of them and everything they’ve achieved.

Before coming to Warwick, I’d been a teacher for a long time, very proud to have taught at all levels from primary all the way up to higher education. And when I wasn’t teaching, I had various other roles, always in education though and even some time at the Department for Education. I was never sure how they felt about it, but I taught at schools where both my children went and was head of sixth form at my daughters’ school. They can’t have minded too much, as they’re now both here doing their Masters, my daughter is at WBS and my son is at Warwick Medical School.

So, how did I get to come to Warwick in the end? I was working in Devon and my son had, my first grandchild. I couldn’t imagine being so far away from them and an opportunity came up at Warwick Global Academy, previously Foundation Studies, like the role I was already doing. I applied, got it and the rest as they say, is history. It was great being back up near the family and I was going to embrace the opportunity to be here and do my PhD.

The role I’m doing now is leading on quality assurance across the University. Our student population is at the heart of everything we do, and as a team we think about what teaching and assessment looks like so we can make it fit and proper for them to be successful. It’s an important job that involves a lot of collaboration with colleagues making sure that we’re doing the best we can for all our students. I also lead on the National Student Survey and Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, making sure that we're capturing the students' voice in a way that's authentic and then doing something with what they’re telling us.

It’s important to me that everyone, both staff and students, know that Warwick is a place where their voices matter and they can be themselves.”