Emily Merricks, a further education (FE) teacher from London, was chosen from FE teachers across England to star in new show Undercover Education. An undercover show with purpose, the exciting new series in collaboration with the Department for Education and Channel 4, is designed to show industry professionals they may already have what it takes to teach in further education.
Presented by television and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author, Konnie Huq, the series sees unsuspecting skilled professionals that work in Construction, Motor Mechanics and Culinary Arts sectors unknowingly step into the role of FE teachers.
Emily Merricks goes undercover to make Craig Floate, a seasoned chef, believe she is just a novice to uncover his hidden teaching potential. In turn, unsuspecting Craig thinks he was simply assigned an intern to mentor for the day. Watched on by her students, Emily brings controlled chaos to the workplace as Craig discovers his natural ability to guide and inspire learners.
This exciting new series shines a light on the incredible industry professionals, who have the skills to teach in FE but don’t know it yet. Through surprising challenges and heartwarming moments, each episode helps the professionals realise that their real-life industry skills could make them great FE teachers.
Emily Merricks, an FE teacher in Culinary Arts at Westminster Capital City College shared: "I decided to take part in 'Undercover Education' because it sounded like a fun and engaging way to spread a word about how rewarding it is to teach in further education.
Stepping into the shoes of an 'intern' was out of my comfort zone, but it was a good opportunity to reflect on what it’s like when you’re learning a new skill from scratch. One standout moment was seeing how calm and understanding Craig was when one plate of food didn’t turn out as expected. The big reveal at the end was a definite highlight for me as well!
I believe more industry professionals should consider teaching in further education. There is never a dull moment on this job! It's a fantastic way to stay connected to your profession while passing on your experience and knowledge to the next generation."
Craig Floate, a 45- year-old chef from Nottingham, shares "I was completely shocked when I realised that the whole day had not been about Emily but was in actual fact all about me realising I already had the skills to be a further education teacher.
At no point did I think Emily was a further education teacher—she played the role perfectly! Throughout the day, I wanted to help her gain confidence without overwhelming her or coming across as bossy.
There were challenges along the way, but I did my best to try and keep the lessons fun and engaging.
I am passionate about my trade, and it was a great feeling being able to share that passion with Emily. It would be amazing if I could pass on that passion to learners and watch them take it into the workplace. Which is exactly what industry professionals can do by teaching in further education, and it is definitely something I’ll keep in mind for the future.”
Konnie Huq, who presents the show and has been following the experts’ journey throughout, said:
“It was great to work with the participants in these three fields to see their knowledge and the power of mentorship, whilst of course a lot of fun coming up with the conversations and pranks carried out by the undercover interns.”
The branded entertainment series is available on Channel 4’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, as will be available to stream on Channel 4. Undercover Education was produced by Zandland and the deal was led by media agency OmniGOV at MG OMD.
If professionals have industry experience, they could already have what it takes to teach in further education. There’s a huge range of courses taught in FE – whatever the industry, there’s likely a job in FE to match a professional’s expertise.
You don’t always need prior teaching qualifications or an academic degree to start teaching in further education. Instead, you can complete teacher training on the job, meaning you can begin earning straight away.
To find out more about becoming a further education teacher and the next steps to take, visit: teachinfurthereducation.education.gov.uk.