Exeter College lecturer is a top teacher
A lecturer from Exeter College has been recognised as one of the nation’s top teachers today, after winning a national award.
Andy Waite, who teaches on the Travel and Tourism course at Exeter College, was chosen out of more than 20,000 nominations to pick up a Silver Teaching Award Winner in the FE Lecturer of the Year category.
Andy and other 55 teachers from across England, Ireland and Wales were presented the awards to mark this year’s ‘Thank a Teacher Day’ (16 May).
No-fewer than 11 students put forward Andy as FE lecturer of the Year while judges’ praised: “His personality, energy and enthusiasm...were extremely impressive, he is an exceptional educationalist”
One grateful ex-student’s nomination read: “I would like to thank Andy Waite for helping me find employment as cabin crew as this is something i have wanted to do for a long time.
“I finally got my job for Thomas Cook and cannot wait to start flying. I don’t think I could have done it without him. Thank You!”
Several other lecturers form Exeter College were also nominated for the award and received a certificate of excellence from the Teaching award trust.
Andy and other the 14 teachers from Exeter College were presented with the accolades today to mark this year’s ‘Thank a Teacher Day’ (16 May).
“We are delighted to be celebrating Thank a Teacher Day today with 15 lecturers being recognised for their contribution to outstanding teaching and learning at Exeter College,” said John Laramy, Vice Principal, Exeter College.
“The award recipients, who were nominated by students at the college for this prestigious national award, include Andy Waite who, after an assessment visit, has won a Silver Teaching Award in the Further Education Lecturer of the Year Category - he is now being considered for the Gold Award announced in October.”
Andy along with 55 other silver award winners across England, Ireland and Wales will now appear at the UK final of the Teaching Awards at London’s Guildhall on to be held on 26th October (and broadcast on the BBC).
At the final 10 award winners will be chosen to receive a Gold Award and the FE Lecturer of the year will be named.
John Laramy continued: “The College’s success is driven by many things. We attract hard working and committed students who, working with our professional and dedicated staff in industry standard facilities record exceptional successes each year.
“At the heart of this success is a focus on teaching and learning across the college, as recognized by our outstanding Ofsted inspection in January.
“This national accolade recognises Andy’s passion for the success of his students and I feel this is reflected in classrooms and workshops throughout the college and in the community.
The awards were established by Lord Puttnam CBE in 1998 and are managed by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity.
Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, president of the Teaching Awards said, “I am genuinely proud and honoured to be the president of the Teaching Awards.
“I owe so much of what I’ve done to my fantastic teachers at school and university and it is exciting to join in celebrating what is probably the most important profession of them all.”
The Teaching Awards is sponsored by the leading learning company Pearson and are open to every school or college in England, Ireland and Wales.
Rod Bristow, President of Core Markets at Pearson, said: “Everyone can remember a teacher who inspired and challenged them so it's important to say thank you.
“It is great teaching that makes the biggest difference to learning and that's why great teachers must be recognised”.
