Edexcel were the proud sponsors of Mid-Kent college’s annual staff awards ceremony held at the college’s Oakwood Park centre at the end of March 2008. The awards recognised staff achievements and successes across the college.

The college’s hospitality and catering students prepared the meals served at the event, and the table settings were produced by the floristry department. Throughout the evening guests were also entertained by performing arts students.
 
Beverley Noble, Head of hair design and holistic therapies, won the ‘Outstanding Lecturer of the Year’ Award. The mum of one from Maidstone has worked at the college for 16 years, starting off as a sessional lecturer. She was stunned to win the award: and said “I was honoured to be nominated for the award by the school partnership department and shocked to find out I had won.

“It has been my pleasure and privilege to work for the past 16 years with such dedicated staff and students, sharing best practice and developing the entry level programmes and foundation curriculum for the 14-16 year olds school link students.”

Teresa Murray, Head of school for construction crafts, accepted ‘The most improved teaching team award’ on behalf of the construction crafts teaching and technical team. She said: “The team have worked really hard to improve our area wherever possible. We have had lots of staff training and taken care to listen to students about how the courses can be improved.

“Our success comes from making sure that every single person in the department is focussed on providing good teaching, which means our support staff and technicians have also joined with the lecturers to ensure improvements are implemented. It has been a real team effort.”

Winning an award as part of the construction crafts team, Personal Tutor Trevor Fox also won the individual ‘Support staff’ award. The 27 year old from Strood was amazed to have been nominated: “I was over the moon to have been nominated and clearly overjoyed when I found out I had actually won!
Seeing the students succeed and grow in confidence during their time at the college makes it all worthwhile but to be recommended for a staff award by your colleagues really makes you feel appreciated.”

Bernadette Katchoff, Edexcel Curriculum Development Manager for Kent, was a guest at the awards ceremony alongside colleagues, Francine Jason, South East Regional Manager and Trevor Luker, Director of UK Education. She thought the night was inspirational for all: ‘We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and it was an honour to be invited to present the ‘Best academic newcomer’ award to Kathleen Weber.

“Edexcel was proud to sponsor the Mid-Kent college staff awards and it was obvious by the fantastic atmosphere on the night that the staff were delighted to have been nominated and honoured by their colleagues.”

Principal Stephen Grix added: “The Mid-Kent college staff awards evening was a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the hard work and dedication of those working at the College. Although black-tie, the night had an informal atmosphere and we were really pleased to see everybody enjoying themselves.

‘It is only the second year we have held the awards but it is clearly here to stay. It increases staff moral, and we are thrilled to have an event solely for the purpose of acknowledging all their hard work.”

For media enquiries, please contact: Megan Fitzgerald, Media Affairs, on 020 7190 4730 or megan.fitzgerald@edexcel.org.uk