Clark Denby – The College’s New CreaTECH Learning Manager

Clark Denby joined us in January making a shift from Braunton in Devon. Clark is formerly of North Devon College, where he worked his way to become Faculty Manager. He has a strong interest in supporting the development of students and adult learners to do well with a particular passion for Cultural Studies Theory around media and Creative IT.  

Clark left school to do a college course BTEC in Leisure Studies, Arts and Entertainment. He then went on to work in various jobs and says he feels an affinity with students as he did not know what he wanted to do. Later, aged 30, he decided to undertake a degree with University of Plymouth, and completed his BA Hons with University of Winchester.

Later, he moved to Braunton, where he went on to work in the HE Faculty, as a lecturer, before becoming Faculty Manager in 2018, in the HE Faculty he worked in curriculum development and student experience. He did a PGCE PCET (Post-Compulsory Education and Training), completing in 2019, and helped to develop degree programmes, often specifically for Higher Education and for adult opportunities and mature learners.  As an adult learner himself, he certainly champions the cause.

At work, Clark has been instrumental in implementing HTQs (Hi-Tech Qualifications) in his former role  – these are degrees which are written that map the future of a degree against the knowledge and behaviours of the qualification. He has also been very involved in the implementation and instruction of digital programmes generally – and his remit at Bournemouth and Poole College will be to look after the CreaTECH, Digital & Creative and Media curriculum areas.   

As Learning Manager for CreaTECH, Clark is responsible for 16 staff: eight in Digital and eight in the Media side. He says he’d like to implement the development and progression of the wider team and the moving transition to the Bournemouth campus. He’d also like to assist with leading, and supporting the digital, and media team to further develop their industry praxis, with special attention to current young learners, as well as developing opportunities for adult learners; with a special attention to current adult and younger learners. 

Clark also has a wider interest in supporting the shaping and developing of CreaTECH as a concept. He is very interested in Cultural Studies Theory and how it can influence the development of education within the college. He would love to study a PhD at some point in the future.

Clark has two children, aged 19 and 17 – one due to go to university and joining Army College in Harrogate. He says of his move to Poole: “It’s been great so far. The team have been really welcoming, and I feel very privileged to be working as part of such an outstanding team, and the range of work is challenging and stimulating. I am focused to support curriculum quality, and delivery across CreaTECH. I’d like to develop the quality of delivery further, too, where I can. In his spare time, Clark enjoys going to the gym a lot, cycling, illustration and socialising.”