Posted on 04 May 2012
Staff from the Guildford College Group with their awards. Back row left to right: Community Provision Volunteers Ginny Dowden and Mike Mortimer, Tracy Lenton, Principal David Collins, Adele Homerstone, Martyn Shanley and Matthew Oliver. Front row left to
Star staff from the Guildford College Group were honoured with awards recently after being nominated by colleagues and students.
In a ceremony held at Guildford College, ten awards were given out to teachers and business support staff who had been judged by an independent panel to be worthy winners. Principal Dr David Collins CBE opened the ceremony by thanking staff across the group for their continued efforts and by congratulating all nominees, saying that he was hugely impressed with the number of nominations, especially in the first year of the awards.
One tutor won two awards. Martyn Shanley, who teaches Catering at Guildford College, received Students’ Teacher of the Year and Personal Tutor of the Year. The first award took nominations solely from students, who had nominated him because “he pushes us to make ourselves do better to help us excel in life” and “a lot of us students look up to him, not just as a lecturer, but as a role model”. Martyn, who was an outright winner in both categories, said of his wins: “I was very surprised to have been nominated for any award, so to have received two is still sinking in. We are all working hard to make sure that students achieve and enjoy their time at college, which as we know is not always easy, so any recognition received only shows how well I am supported. Thanks to the College for recognising my efforts and I hope I now live up to expectations!”
Tracy Lenton, Public Services tutor at Merrist Wood College, was nominated by his colleagues and won Staff Teacher of the Year. Tracy used to serve in the British Army as Officer in Charge of the Army Youth Team for Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. He now prepares students for careers in the uniformed services and was commended for his rapport with the students, his grade 1 lesson observations and his commitment to teaching, as well as being a part-time Crew Manager with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service outside of College and First Aid trainer running qualifications for students on other courses. He said: “I am very proud to receive this award and more importantly share my experiences both as a veteran of the military and currently serving fire fighter, with the students I teach”.
The Community Provision of the College, volunteers who give their time freely to support tutors to help students achieve basic skills qualifications, received the Community Champions Award.
Business support staff also won awards. Student Mentor Adele Homerstone received Outstanding Learner Support for her efforts in making students feel supported during their time at the College. She was also recently mentioned in an Ofsted report into Merrist Wood College’s residential provision, which was described as “outstanding”. Information and Advice Officer Dawn Wallman got Outstanding Customer Service in recognition of her quiet endeavours and patience in helping countless customers to access learning at the College. Janet Ford was awarded Outstanding Business Support for her longstanding role in the Admissions and Enrolment Team over 11 years and particularly for working so many extra hours to boost ESOL enrolments for foreign language students.
Other winners were Matthew Oliver - Outstanding Leadership (Business Support), Fiona Palmer - Outstanding Leadership (Curriculum) and Denise Williams - Innovative ILT practice.