Joe Stocking, off the back of a newspaper clipping, applied for a job at West Suffolk College in 2004. Not sure what he wanted to do, he became a part-time lecturer in music. This progressed into a full-time job, and he became a Course Director as the Music Department grew. Following the advice given to him by Phil Thirkettle, he has frequently stepped out of his comfort zone in his career. Joe is now a Group Assistant Principal.
What made you join Eastern Education Group?
In 2004, a family member sent me a cutout of an advert in the East Anglian Daily Times – WSC is looking for a Music Technology lecturer for two days a week and to call said number if interested. I thought, this is better than data inputting (which I had been doing for two years since finishing uni), whilst the band and studio recording projects I was working on didn’t quite have the success I had anticipated. I never wanted to be a teacher, in fact it’s quite ironic that I was rejected from a PGCE course after being ‘persuaded’ to get a career, much was my lack of engagement! This job could therefore become a means to an end, until something else came up. I therefore called the number and spoke to Gary Kelly in the Academy of Creative Arts department. I was asked if I knew how to use Cubase (music software) and after saying yes, I was invited to come in for a brief chat and then offered the position. This subsequently turned out to be the start of a 21-year long career at West Suffolk College.
I started in 2004 as an unqualified and inexperienced teacher, teaching Level 2 Music Technology for one day a week, and PAVE (14-16 school release) for the other day. I had no idea what I was doing, and I remember my first session with the 14-16 students and a member of staff telling me to be careful, as they were a very ‘lively’ bunch and to make sure I stayed behind the guard fence…I survived, and, whilst there were several months of figuring out what teaching was all about, seeing students develop and learn new skills was a massive reality shock. The following year, the Course Director for the L2 programme (Marc Mason) left the College, and I applied for and was offered the post. I still didn’t really know what I was doing, looking back now it was all a bit ‘wild west’, but there were some lovely people in the department who supported me. When Andy Guy started at the college, he developed the Level 3 Music Performance course, which provided me with an opportunity to become the full-time Course Director, thanks to Barbara Beaton having faith in my abilities. In 2006, I started my PGCE (along with Andy Guy, Anthony Harvey Linzi Stivey, Helena Rudd and Mark Ames to name but a few).
At this time, ‘The Academy of Creative Entertainment’ was based in Burma House with a recording studio and a couple of classrooms in Edmund House. Burma House was a drafty flat roofed building, sitting pretty much where Starbucks is currently located in the Gateway. We didn’t have any rehearsal space for the course so used to spend a couple of days a week offsite at the Rehearsal Rooms in St Andrew’s Street in town, also using the Hunter Club for a short period. The department moved from Burma House to Edmund House when work commenced on the Gateway building. This saw the old Art & Design area developed into the existing theatre, with additional classrooms. When Nikos replaced Anne Williams as Principal, the area was re-branded into Conservatoire EAST, with a rather striking purple décor! I took over Music and Media as Head of Department in June 2018, which saw the development of on-site rehearsal facilities, edit suites and recording studios, and was appointed as Group Assistant Principal, primarily for digital and the creative arts in December 2023.
My current role is Group Assistant Principal, following my appointment in December 2023. I feel fortunate that working for the College has given me many opportunities to develop. I remember speaking to Phil Thirkettle (Vice-Principal when I was a Course Director) about how I could potentially progress in my role and he advised that sometimes you have to stick your head above the parapet to be seen. I used his advice to push myself forward for cross-college opportunities and work with awarding bodies, which allowed me to gain valuable experiences for my future roles.
Do you have any special memories from your time with us?
We used to run back-to-back gigs in local venues with student bands and external support bands (the Priors Inn, Hunter Club, Bar 3, Pot Black, Lucky Break). We used to lug all the PA out, set it up and not get back until the early hours of the next morning to teach, then do it all again. It was shattering, but such a great experience for all the students. However, the standout moments were always finishing the course, seeing how far the students had come both personally and professionally and sending them on to their next steps. It was always bitter-sweet as you invest so much time into these individuals that there is a pang of sadness they have finished, but a real sense of pride for how far they have all come.
Lastly, do you have any advice for future students and staff at EEG?
Step outside of your comfort zone, embrace all opportunities and try to pick yourself up and carry on if you ever get knocked down.
