Shabnam Bibi
Teacher of Foundation Learning and London Teacher of the Year 2020 Award Winner
On work-life:
“I absolutely love coming into work! I’m lucky to work with aspiring and dedicated team members. They are ready to listen and always carry a positive can-do approach. Alongside a great team, I have the pleasure in delivering lessons to diverse students who have been given another opportunity in education or their only opportunity. They are my intrinsic motivation at work and I would not be where I am now without them.”
“I am so pleased to have received the London Teacher of the Year award and ever so grateful to be working in a prestigious institution that supports and encourages me.“
On your teaching career:
“My journey started from the moment I received a call from NewVIc inviting ex-students back to NewVIc for employment after we had completed our undergraduate degree. I felt so happy that my hard work as a student at NewVIc was recognised and not forgotten. So I applied at NewVIc as a Learner Support Practitioner- Inclusive Learning team.
The knowledge I have now is due to the immense knowledge of the expertise in the team. I always aspired to become a teacher and I immediately knew the post compulsory sector was the right field to be in. I completed my PGCE in 2014 at University of Greenwich and secured a teacher role in the Foundation Learning department. I have always been passionate to work within this department primarily because of my knowledge in both learning needs and difficulties. Furthermore, the programme offers a range of educational options; therefore, I am able to teach across the board from entry level to GCSE. I am so happy to work at NewVIc especially being an ex-pupil who studied A levels.
My specialism is Social Science in both Psychology and Sociology. I previously taught PTOA Psychology and I now teach PTOA GCSE Sociology. A year into teaching, I successfully mentored two trainee teachers from the University of Greenwich. This was a wonderful and invaluable experience! We worked collaboratively and ensured they completed their PGCE at a high standard, whereby they delivered outstanding teaching and facilitated their lessons to all learners in the class. By the end of their PGCE, I supported them to be equipped for the outside world by securing a teaching role at The Warrens School. My supportive work was recognised at the University of Greenwich, whereby I won an award of student choice, Mentor award of the year out of many partnership colleges.
Alongside this, I was selected for the OLEVI- Outstanding Teaching Programme which I thoroughly enjoyed. We are now embarking on a new culture of learning and teaching; helping our peers and having an open learning approach. From this, I completed my training in Power of Coaching and I am now an accredited facilitator of coaching.”
On student progression:
“I am so proud of all my learners as they have achieved milestones during their time at NewVIc. For example, majority of our FL Level 1 learners have progressed internally to Level 2 programmes and previously students have left with Level 3 qualifications. They feel so proud to have started off at FL Level 1 as they were welcomed and were equipped for the future. They would often say they received the best education in comparison to their secondary school experience.
I am honoured to teach GCSE Sociology to our PTOA learners as they strive to achieve their potential and more. This year, all learners performed exceptionally well and we had grades from 7 to 9!
Our previous PTOA learners have recently left with A* in their A levels or distinction in their vocational subject. They are grateful learners and they always acknowledge your hard work wherever you are in the building; this is a feeling money cannot buy. I am proud to be their teacher and feel privileged to share my teaching journey with each of them.”