A TEACHER at Tavistock College has swiftly made her mark in education.
History teacher Niki Bishop was shortlisted at the prestigious regional teaching awards ? and on Monday she received a special commendation in the category for outstanding new teacher.
Niki received the award, which included a certificate and a £250 cheque for the school.
She said:?I can?t believe it. Being nominated was good enough. To get this far is really good ? amazing.?
Niki said Tavistock College had been her first placement when she was doing teacher training so it was good to be back there. She is just completing her second year at the college, where she teaches history to 11 to 18 year olds. She also has a Year 7 tutor group and said the pupils were ?really lovely?. ?I really enjoy teaching them,? she said.
?I love teaching at the college and work with some really good people who help me. Every day there is something different.?
Niki was pipped to the post for the regional winner award by a teacher from St Austell .
The Teaching Awards 2004 ceremony for the South West of England took place at Dartington Hall near Totnes and was the sixth since the Teaching Awards Trust was established.
The ceremony was hosted by Justin Leigh of BBC Spotlight and attended by Professor Ted Wragg, chair of the national awards panel, and Tavistock St Rumon?s School headteacher Mags Long, chair of the South West awards panel.
Ten regional winners ? headteachers, teachers and teaching assistants ? each received a prize package worth more than £2,500 for their school, with a further 12 receiving special commendations and a £250 cheque.
All nominees are assessed by the regional awards panel, who visit shortlisted nominees in their schools to observe lessons and hear testimony from members of the school community.
Mags Long said the panel was increasingly bowled over by the quality of nominations and consistent good practice, much of which was outstanding.