Winners of the 2007 QIA STAR Awards
Amanda Hemmer from the Royal National College of the Blind (Hereford) in the category of outstanding teaching, training and learning practitioner sponsored by the Institute for Learning (IfL)
Amanda introduced dance and drama to the Royal National College for the Blind as a personal initiative in 1992 when the thought of people with visual impairment being dancers or actors was inconceivable. Amanda shows great sensitivity to learners, some with additional disabilities, and has changed some individuals from being unable to take a step without the help of another person to joyous, independent and confident movement.
Eddie Bedford from Leicester College in the category of outstanding contribution to Skills for Life sponsored by The Mirror
Eddie is a business lecturer at Leicester College who uses a flexible, patient and caring approach to get the best out of his learners. He understand the difficulties many young people experience and is fundamental in supporting them through the challenges of what is, for some, a new start in learning.
Marc Wood from the Friends Centre (Brighton) in the category of outstanding provision of learning opportunities in response to learners’ needs sponsored by Remploy
Marc joined the Friends Centre to run the Step-by-Step project in October 2005, helping to meet the basic needs of rough sleepers, ex-offenders and young people at risk. Not only did Marc manage to get the service up and running in just six weeks, he has also progressed 50% of clients into mainstream learning and 35% of clients have gone on to engage in other meaningful occupations around work or learning.
Richard Crook from Crook De Lyon Development and Training (Fakenham) in the category of outstanding contribution to engaging employers sponsored by Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
Richard has been highly effective in setting up effective partnerships to kick start learning for hard-to-reach, non-traditional learners. Through building partnerships with employers, he has established appropriate infrastructures and placed people with employers who traditionally provided little or no training for this type of learner.
One Complete Solution from Ipswich Hospital in the category of outstanding contribution to workforce development sponsored by ConstructionSkills
One Complete Solution has been working to up skill and integrate the cleaners and caterers of Ipswich Hospital whose first language is not English. The team worked together with OSC, the learning provider (WEA), the union learning rep and Suffolk Learning Link (SSL). Response from learners has been excellent with a higher percentage of uptake than initially targeted.
Roland Griffiths from Reaseheath College (Cheshire) in the category of outstanding contribution in a support role sponsored by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)
Roland is an Evening Warden at Reaseheath College which is a specialist land-based provider. He is totally immersed and involved in his job, and seeks ways to engage students and promote positive attitudes. Roland has introduced a number of successful approaches to support the care and welfare of learners including sporting and enrichment activities for learners, care and safety of learners at night and 'Roly's mystery trips.'
Andrea Wilkinson from Wakefield College in the category of outstanding contribution to learning support sponsored by Nord Anglia Education Partnerships
Andrea works with school age children who study full time at Wakefield College because it has been inappropriate for them to continue in school. Many of the children are disaffected and disengaged. Andrea has been described by colleagues as an exceptional learning mentor who works extremely hard to keep students on the programme by providing counselling, motivation and support.
Linda Ham from Alton College (Hampshire) in the category of outstanding leadership sponsored by the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL)
Linda leads the Estates Team at Alton College and has transformed the way in which the caretakers and cleaning staff serve the organisation. The college also achieved 'outstanding' in all five areas that were inspected by OfSTED in May 2006 and the report made reference to the high quality of the campus and facilities.
Oliver Tindall from Castle College (part of Sheffield College) in the category of outstanding innovation sponsored by ECOTEC
Oliver has successfully changed the culture as Castle College by introducing a range of activities, resources and programs to embed enterprise as part of the core curriculum. His work has changed lives as more students have gone on to become entrepreneurs and set up new businesses.
Bill Leivers from Loughborough College in the category of outstanding contribution to the development of the further education system sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
Bill has successfully collaborated with schools to lead to successful outcomes for school learners in further education. He has developed the e-Progress File which has transformed tutorial processes both locally and nationally. The e-Progress File is an electronic tool for setting targets, monitoring progress and recording achievement and is one of only two systems to have government support.
Click here to View the photos from the ceremony.