The remarkable efforts of an Etc. teaching team have been recognised on the national stage.
After months of waiting in the wings, this week the Prince’s Trust department got to officially celebrate being named the Pearson National Teaching Awards FE Team of the Year.
Invited to a glittering celebration at the London Marriott Hotel, the college group’s head of department for the Prince’s Trust, said: “It was an incredible event and we were proud and humbled to be a part of it.”
The National Teaching Awards are a celebration of exceptional teachers that recognise the life changing impact teachers, teaching assistants, head teachers and lecturers can have on young people’s lives. Just 14 gold awards are given out each year.
Working with unemployed young people aged 16 to 25, staff members from the Etc. Prince’s Trust Team regularly make a life changing impact on their students, helping to build their confidence and self-esteem and often seeing them move on to further education, training or employment.
Gillian said: “It is not always an easy job, but the rewards when you see the learners go on to achieve their goals are massive.”
For the team, which this week also celebrates 25 years of working in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, it is far more than just a job. Each member gives their endless support, enthusiasm and motivation to every young person.
Proud to bring one of the coveted titles to the Tees Valley, Gillian said: “This is fantastic not just for our team, our young people, our college group and the region, but also for all those further education workers who teach non-traditional learners.”
Winners were announced on BBC’s The One Show last year but the celebration event was put on hold due to the pandemic.