New College Lanarkshire lecturer wins major teaching award

Kim Beveridge, who teaches film and TV at New College Lanarkshire, has been named a Silver Winner in the Further Education (FE) Lecturer of the Year category at the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Kim is just the second lecturer from a Scottish college to receive the honour, following Neil McMullen, also from New College Lanarkshire.

Her success was announced on National Thank a Teacher Day, which celebrates outstanding educators across the country.

Reflecting on the win, Kim said: "This recognition means a great deal but I've never really seen my job as being about what happens in a classroom.

"It's about the moment when students realise they have something to say, and that people want to hear it.

"The students I work with have extraordinary stories to tell and when they start to see themselves as the ones who can tell those stories, something amazing happens."

Kim now has a chance of going on to win the Gold Award, which will be announced at a ceremony in London and broadcast on BBC One’s The One Show later this year.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards are run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity established more than 25 years ago to recognise those who make a transformational impact through education.

Sir Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, president of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: "The dedication and impact of those involved in educating young people is truly remarkable.

"Their influence extends well beyond the classroom.

"Long before children find their voice, their confidence, or their calling, there is usually a teacher who helped them get there, working patiently and persistently, and often without any recognition at all.

"That is what makes National Thank a Teacher Day so important.

"It is a rare and well-deserved moment to celebrate our teachers and say we are grateful.

"I am especially proud to congratulate this year's Silver award winners.

"In a world that moves quickly and demands so much, you have chosen to invest your time, energy and passion into future generations, and that is something truly worth celebrating.

"Thank you for the dedication you show every single day."

Sharon Hague, chief executive of Pearson UK, also praised the sector’s staff for their influence and commitment.

She said: "For many of us, a teacher was the person who helped us believe in ourselves and recognise what we were capable of.

"Every day, educators support young people to be the best they can be, nurturing their potential and leaving a lasting impact that follows them into adulthood.

"We are proud to take this opportunity to say thank you to the teachers up and down the country who make our schools so special.

"This year's Silver Winners represent the amazing dedication and brilliant work that goes on in classrooms across the country, and we're delighted to be celebrating them today."

This year’s Silver Winners include 99 teachers, lecturers, support staff, leaders and education settings who have all been recognised for going above and beyond to inspire the people they work with.

Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said: "On Thank a Teacher Day we stop to appreciate the extraordinary lengths teachers go to, every single day, to inspire the young people in their classrooms.

"I know more than most how great teachers shape young lives.

"So, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your dedication, your commitment and your hunger to help your pupils go on to live better, more fulfilling lives."