A Tempo teacher could rightly claim the title of 'Superwoman'. Not only does she teach in Devenish College, and look after nine-year-old twin boys, but she has also found the time and the dedication to complete not one, but two degrees, plus a post-graduate diploma, through the Open University.

Bernadette McDermott is a French teacher in her school; however, on Saturday it was a case of the teacher becoming the student as she graduated with a Master's Degree in Education, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies from the Open University.

She has been studying for these qualification for three years, although her connections with the Open University go back even further than this.

"I completed my BA Hons in French and Psychology", she explained, "from the University of Sunderland in 1992. Then, a few years later, I started studying for my PGCE through the Open University, and was one of the first students to graduate with this qualification in secondary French teaching."

It was three years ago when her husband started studying for his BSc Hons in Mental Health Nursing at Magee College that Mrs McDermott started to think of her third degree, and signed up for the Masters in Education.

She is a champion of the Open University, applauding the flexibility it gives students, although, as she readily admitted, it requires added commitment to see the qualification through to the end, with the last year proving the most difficult.

As well as more qualifications to her name, Mrs McDermott also discovered that her recent time spent studying has also led to "an increase in my self-confidence and a greater faith in my own ability to teach.

"It was also useful to gain perspective and look at things as a student again as well as a teacher."

And, as for the future, has Mrs McDermott any intention of getting back behind the books? "Well not in the near future, but you never know," she laughed.