Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form is celebrating after one of its hairdressing tutors, Annette Tattersall has been named a runner up for The National Pearson Award for FE Teacher/Lecturer of the Year (Northern region).

The Pearson Teaching Awards are a national competition aimed at recognising the excellent work which teachers, Head Teachers and Teaching Assistants do, which make a real difference to a young person’s life.

Each year, Pearson’s encourage people to write to them with a ‘thank you’ for their favourite teachers. They then collate this information as part of the ‘thank a teacher’ campaign and get a team of judges to pick out some of the really outstanding nominees to recognise and celebrate through their awards.

Annette Tattersall has worked as a tutor at Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form since September 2001 and since that time has had a tremendous impact on the lives of hundreds of students. As part of the competition process, the College was asked to submit a nomination form for Annette and in consultation with staff and students, the following was written,

“Annette is an inspiration to her students, colleagues in hairdressing and other teachers across the college and beyond.  The energy and enthusiasm she puts into to her teaching engages all of her students, particularly those young people who seem reluctant in other lessons to fully participate.

With regards to her peers, Annette’s regular cross-college sharing good practice sessions are regularly attended by colleagues, where her passion for her subject and sense of humour always ensures that her sessions are oversubscribed.

There is always a buzz in the classroom and salon when Annette is teaching.  In the salon she sets all her students high but realistic expectations for professional behaviour with clients and with their peers.  She pairs up students who are more confident with the less so and this develops self-worth and

In subject focus groups and student feedback, Annette’s student comments are characterised by their clear understanding of who they are, what they want to be and what they need to do to progress.”

The College is proud to boast a fantastic team of staff who are totally committed to student success and wellbeing. Annette’s achievement in being named as the runner up in their prestigious competition is a tribute to her passion to teaching and helping each and every young person that she meets, to achieve their full potential.