Performing Arts wins ‘FE Team of the Year’ and Honours Programme Manager and History Lecturer Carina Ancell wins ‘FE Lecturer of the Year’. This is the first time that the same institution has been shortlisted twice in the history of the awards.

Selected from thousands of nominations, lecturer Carina Ancell and the Performing Arts Team at Newham Sixth Form College have been honoured as one of 102 Pearson National Teaching Silver Award winners across the country. Carina and the Performing Arts Team were honoured with two Silver Awards in The Awards for Further Education Lecturer of the Year and Further Education Team of the Year for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.

Carina’s work regularly goes further than the curriculum; be it setting up a lunchtime debating club which puts attendees forward for debating competitions held by Oxford and Cambridge University, continuing to provide support and advice to former pupils or setting up an alumni network to help pass on advice to current pupils.

A committed and approachable teacher who has raised student aspirations; in the last two years the number of students in the honours programme has more than doubled and last year Newham Sixth Form College saw the highest number of pupils applying to Russell Group universities. To Carina, a rich and varied curriculum can be a tool to progress social justice; Carina is an active member of the decolonising the curriculum movement and founder of the NewVlc African Studies Centre.

The performing arts team work at one of the largest sixth form colleges in the country and serve a socially and economically deprived borough. In recent years alumni have gone on to become professional musicians, actors and dancers, as well as choreographers, music producers, costume designers and more.

Students have the chance to work with professionals in the industry to get a deeper understanding of their craft, and are encouraged to question society and explore issues relevant to them, such as Black Lives Matter and HIV/Aids. The team prepares students for work in the creative industries, including providing professional headshots to get them started.

Carina and the performing arts team have now been shortlisted to win one of just 15 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme which will be broadcast on the BBC. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the exceptional school staff who have worked wonders during an incredibly challenging time for educators across the country.

New research from Parentkind and The Teaching Awards Trust highlights that three in four parents and carers have a newfound respect hold for the teaching profession following their experiences of remote learning during lockdown. 74.9% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had more respect for the work that teachers do following their family’s experiences of remote learning.

The last year has seen a wealth of stories of teachers making care visits to vulnerable families, coming up with innovative ways of remote teaching, keeping their pupils settled by regularly checking in and even using their school sites for Covid-19 testing when classes did return to school. There has never been a better time to appreciate them and the vital work they do.

Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said:

“Thank a Teacher Day gives us all a chance - children, families, all of us - to pay tribute to those wonderful educators who change more lives than they will ever know. Today we say thank you to the teachers who have helped our young people navigate these most difficult of times, and who will continue to inspire countless young minds over the coming years.”

Sharon Hague, Senior Vice President of Schools at Pearson UK, said:

“After a year like no other we want to take today to say thank you to all the incredible school staff who have kept children and young people learning despite unprecedented challenges. We hope the celebrations today show how much you are appreciated, and that your hard work has not gone unnoticed nor unrecognised.”

Mandeep Gill, Principal and Chief Executive at Newham Sixth Form College, said:

“The FE Lecturer of the Year award is a testament for Carina’s outstanding work over the previous years. I couldn’t be more proud of her and the impact she has on our students. Our staff are committed to delivering an outstanding teaching and learning experience to all learners. Carina has worked incredibly hard to support, encourage and motivate students to achieve their full potential resulting in the highest number of students progressing to Russell Group universities. I am delighted that Carina is being recognised nationally for her work in changing the lives of our students.

The performing arts team have all worked incredibly hard to push boundaries and provide fantastic opportunities and experiences for students. It’s these experiences which enriches learning and puts our students in the best possible position for their future careers. I am incredibly proud of them and the impact they have on our students' lives.”

Honours Programme Manager and teacher of History, Carina Ancell added:

“It is a privilege to receive such a prestigious award. I love my work as Curriculum Team Manager for Extended Studies, supporting our students to progress to leading universities and hopefully inspiring and motivating the next generation of young historians in my role as A-Level History teacher. I particularly enjoy my external partnership work with some really creative individuals and academic departments at universities across the UK. I am so lucky to work at such an amazing, diverse college as NewVIc and to have such a lovely group of colleagues to collaborate with, who play such a key role in making this college so successful, and without whom I would not be able to do the work I do. Particular credit needs to go to Magdalena Johnson, our Vice Principal, for always supporting me and driving me to achieve more, and Alan Kunna who is my partner in so many of the projects, and has been such an inspiration for me. But most importantly it is my students who, with their creativity, energy and enthusiasm, constantly make the teaching experience so enjoyable and challenge me intellectually every day.”

Head of Curriculum, John Crockford added:

“The performing arts team is so excited by this amazing award for FE team of the year, and I personally feel that it reflects the consistently stimulating creative curriculum and projects at NewVIc. Performing arts here is the combination of dynamic, inspiring creative teachers and our lovely students who come from such a diverse range of backgrounds and starting points. Determination to achieve high standards in our work with professional partners, our links to our awesome alumni in the creative industries and the care shown to our students is what sets us apart - I'm so proud of the team.”

For more information visit https://www.teachingawards.com/