The best FE teaching and management will be celebrated alongside young people’s vocational skills this year as the TES FE Awards joins up with the Skills Show.
Now in their second year, the TES FE Awards recognise outstanding provision in all aspects of FE: colleges, work-based learning providers, adult and community learning providers, offender learning establishments and specialist designated institutions.
After the success of last year’s launch, which saw hundreds of providers compete for prizes in teaching, leadership, employer engagement and sustainability in 13 categories, the awards will be moving to Birmingham to join up with the Skills Show.
The Skills Show is part of the legacy of the UK playing host to last year’s international WorldSkills competition. It is intended to inspire under-25 competitors to be the greatest in their vocational field, by bringing the finals of dozens of national skills competitions together under one roof.
The winner of last year’s award for outstanding provider, BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney, East London, said the award had given students and staff a renewed sense of pride and had practical benefits in improving their status with feeder schools, increasing applications and raising their reputation with universities.
“It is the biggest tribute to the dedication and skill of our students and staff we could receive,” said principal Ken Warman. “The impact of the award can be measured through the empowering of our students to strive for further achievements and the sense of pride that they feel through being part of a successful institution.”
Gerard Kelly, editor of TES, said that last year’s awards had enabled a celebration of the best of the FE sector and its contribution to “transforming lives”.
“This year, by bringing the FE Awards to the Skills Show, we will be able to show the achievements of teachers and managers alongside some of the talented students that they have inspired,” he said.
“At the WorldSkills competition last year, the UK proved it has a vocational skills system that can stand with the best in the world, as our young people won a record medal haul,” he added. “At our awards, we’ll be recognising the hard work and dedication of the people whose teaching made this possible.”
Ross Maloney, executive director of the Skills Show, said that the events will together help to enthuse a new generation about FE, skills and apprenticeships.
“The TES FE Awards demonstrate the achievements of teachers and managers in further education, while the Skills Show is the perfect opportunity to showcase the importance of skills to economic growth in the UK,” he said.
Rob Wye, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service, which sponsors the awards, said: “As the organisation that is tasked with driving excellence across the further education and skills sector, it is fitting that we are supporting these accolades that highlight the exceptional work that is taking place within our sector.
“These awards will recognise the sector’s innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to teaching, learning, leadership and management. In addition, they will highlight practices that will provide the sector with something to learn from and aspire to.”
The deadline for entries is 15 July. The winners, selected by a panel of distinguished judges, will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 15 November.
HOW TO ENTER
The deadline for entries to this year’s TES FE Awards is 15 July. The categories are:
- Outstanding e-learning team
- Outstanding finance team
- Outstanding marketingcommunications team
- Outstanding human resources team
- Outstanding estates team
- Outstanding innovation in teaching, training or learning provision
- Outstanding practice in sustainability
- Outstanding employer engagement
- Outstanding contribution to the local community
- Outstanding entrepreneurship in learning and skills
- Outstanding leadership in learning and skills
- Outstanding provider of the year
- Lifetime achievement award
To enter, please visit www.tesfeawards.co.uk
