Weston College Principal, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, is in the running for the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Award for Lifetime Achievement.
At a time when colleges and schools are doing more than ever to support their communities, the shortlist for the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards has been announced.
Selected from thousands of nominations, Dr Paul Phillips is alongside other extraordinary leaders, teachers, lecturers and support staff who have been entered into the Education’s Oscars.
Dr Paul Phillips of Weston College is in the running to be one of the Silver Award winners. These will then compete to win one of just 14 Gold Awards which will be announced at the televised UK ceremony later in the year, broadcast on the BBC as ‘Britain’s Classroom Heroes’.
Andrew Leighton-Price, Weston College’s Chair of Governors, said: “This recognition is very well deserved for our Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips; under his leadership Weston College has been transformed into one of finest FE and HE colleges in the country.
“In 2017 he was recognised as one of seven National Leaders of Further Education (NLFE), in 2019 he was named TES FE Leader of the Year and in 2015 the College was named TES FE College/Overall Provider of the Year 2015.
“Also under his leadership students with special educational needs at Weston College now achieve progression rates similar to those of all students across the country.
“Dr Paul has also worked closely with local businesses to ensure a strong pipeline into the local workforce in an area of high deprivation and low aspirations.”
Steve Frampton MBE, President of the Association of Colleges, said: ““On behalf of all those in the FE sector, we are delighted to see that Dr Paul’s inspirational, creative leadership and passion have been recognised by this very well-deserved nomination.
“Paul is an outstanding and innovative community college leader who is always willing to share best practise as an NLFE, and this has never been more important than during the current COVID 19 crisis. His work mobilising Weston College to create #MyVirtualCollege, and at pace, is exemplary and much valued by all staff, students and the wider community.
“Paul is a visionary beacon in the very talented FE landscape, and he deserves this positive acknowledgement for his tireless hard work, energy, and commitment, and for transforming Weston College, not only for the benefit of a generation of his students , but also the wider community.”
The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord David Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.
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