Entries are being sought from the best and brightest individuals and institutions in the further education sector, who are to be celebrated at the .

Now in their fourth year, the awards are open to anyone working in the UK FE sector: colleges and work-based learning providers; adult-learning providers; offenders’ learning establishments and specialist designated institutes. This includes those working in FE within the higher education sector.

The 12 awards categories recognise outstanding provision in all aspects of FE from best teaching and learning initiative to employer engagement and ‘FE Leader of the Year’. 

Three new categories have been introduced this year, including a new flagship title for independent training providers.  The winner will go head to head with the college of the year for the prestigious overall title of ‘FE Provider of the Year’.

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This category and the event itself will be sponsored by The Education and Training Foundation, whose chief executive David Russell said of the awards: “The TES FE Awards have rapidly established themselves as landmark event in the education calendar – a fantastic opportunity for us to come together and celebrate everything that is innovative and excellent in this wonderful, diverse sector of ours.

“That’s why the Education and Training Foundation was delighted to be approached to be headline sponsor of the 2015 Awards, and why I, in particular, was thrilled to be asked to join the judging panel.”

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Another new category for 2015, the award for outstanding contribution to a subject or vocational area, will be presented to the teacher who has demonstrated the most imaginative and innovative approach to their area of expertise. 

To put your institution and colleagues in the spotlight, all you have to do is submit 500 words by 14 November, explaining why they deserve to win.  

The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London, on February 2015. 

Watch the awards launch video and find out more at

Award categories:

• Lifetime achievement
• Teacher of the year 
• Employer engagement
• Outstanding use of technology in FE  
• Marketing/communications campaign of the year
• Best teaching and learning initiative
• Contribution to the local community  
• FE leader of the year 
• Support for students  
• Outstanding contribution to a subject or vocational area
• Training provider of the year 
• College of the year

Case study: Richard Reid, Forth Valley College - Teacher of the Year 2014

His aim was to help his students, but his creative use of existing technologies won a Forth Valley College engineering lecturer the 2014 TES FE Award for most innovative teacher.

Richard Reid was praised by the judging panel for the mobile apps and online programmes he created and his innovative use of technology.

“When my collage nominated me for the most innovative teacher of the year, I felt delighted that they had recognised the work I was doing with my learners,” Mr Reid said.

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Until then, he said, he had never considered that anyone outside his department understood the approach he took to delivering classes.

“Gaining recognition within the college was amazing but when I won the award, the sense of achievement really hit home. To think my efforts are being noticed on a national level is incredible. 

“I was surprised when my name was called at the ceremony and thinking back now to the night of the awards, sometimes I still can’t quite believe I won,” he said.

Since winning the award, he said that he had been inundated with people asking his advice.

“The aim of what I set out to do was to help my learners but after I achieved that, my focus changed to assist my colleagues in helping their learners.  The TES FE award has helped me achieve this, it has given me recognition that made my peers sit up and take notice.”

Mr Reid has been involved in a number of development events to help staff open up to using technology and show them how they can employ some of the ideas he uses in classes himself. 

“Most teachers want to banish mobile phones, fearing the negative, but winning the award has given me the platform to change teachers’ views and embrace this new technology as an effective way of engaging learners,” Mr Reid explained.

He added that Forth Valley College had taken every opportunity to highlight his success at the 2014 TES FE Awards, even placing posters around the college to let staff, students and visitors know. 

“For a few weeks I felt like a celebrity with everyone approaching me to congratulate me,” he joked.

To learn more about Richard’s innovative approach to teaching and to enter the awards, visit:

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