The deadline for the Tes FE Awards 2021 has been extended by one week: you now have until midnight on Friday 12 March to apply. 

With institutions preparing for a wider reopening on Monday, Tes wants to ensure staff have sufficient time to nominate the teams and colleagues that have gone above and beyond this year. The awards celebrate the best and brightest in the further education sector: from the best teaching and learning initiative to the professional services team of the year, and from the apprenticeship programme of the year to the best use of technology in teaching and learning.

The past 12 months have been tough for everyone in FE, and the awards are a chance to celebrate the power of the sector as well as the incredible achievements of so many hard-working staff.

Helena Good: Tes FE’s teacher of the year

Ruth Spellman: Architect of lifelong learning

Sam Parrett: FE’s leader of the year 2020

With 18 categories to choose from, there is an award for everybody. Entry is free and open to all further education establishments in the UK. Tell us in 500 words why you should win before midnight on that date. The shortlist will be announced in Tes magazine and the ceremony will be held virtually on Friday 28 May. 

The categories

• Lifetime achievement
• Employer engagement
• Outstanding use of technology in delivering remote teaching and learning
• Best teaching and learning initiative
• Contribution to the local community
• Support for learners
• WorldSkills unsung hero
• Outstanding GCSE resits provision
• Professional services team of the year
• Apprenticeship programme of the year
• Teacher of the year
• FE leader of the year
• Training provider of the year
• FE college of the year
• Sixth-form college of the year
• Specialist provider of the year
• Adult and community learning provider of the year
• Overall FE provider of the year

Tes FE Awards: Meet the judges

Earlier this week, we announced our esteemed group of judges. They are: 

• Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)
• David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges
• Sue Pember, director of policy at Holex
• Ian Pretty, chief executive of the Collab Group
• Lynette Barrett, chief operations officer at National Star and chair of Natspec
• Jim Metcalfe, chief executive of the College Development Network
• Helena Good, a graphic design lecturer at Edinburgh College on secondment with Skills Development Scotland and Tes’ FE teacher of the year 2020
• Jeff Greenidge, director of diversity at the Association of Colleges and Education and Training Foundation
• Fiona Aldridge, director for policy and research at the Learning and Work Institute
• Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association 
• Marie Therese McGivern, former principal and chief executive of Belfast Metropolitan College, and non-executive director of the Strategic Investment Board for Northern Ireland
• Bob Harrison, chair of Northern College and governor at Oldham College
• Vicky Duckworth, professor of further education at Edge Hill University 
• David Russell, chief executive of the Education and Training Foundation
• Jane Hickie, chief executive of Association of Employment and Learning Providers
• Neil Bentley-Gockmann, chief executive of WorldSkills UK
• Cindy Rampersaud, senior vice-president, apprenticeships and Btecs, at Pearson