Vice-Chancellor honours inspirational teachers

Seven teachers from state schools all over the country were honoured as 'inspirational teachers' by Oxford University's Vice-Chancellor at an event held in Oxford. The awards come as part of a scheme designed to recognise and show appreciation for inspirational teachers from state schools and colleges.

On Friday 20 April the teachers were honoured at an event recognising their efforts supporting pupils who were successful in getting places at Oxford. They received University of Oxford Inspirational Teachers Awards thanks to nominations by first-year Oxford students.

Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, presented the awards, and said: 'There is a huge amount of hard work and dedication involved in securing a place at Oxford, and teachers play a crucial role in supporting and raising the aspirations of the most capable students year on year throughout their careers. I hope this award will send the message that students and universities recognise how valuable the role of a supportive teacher can be.'

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford, said: ‘We started the Inspirational Teachers Awards last year as a way of recognising the importance of school or college teachers as playing an important role in encouraging bright students to inspire students to realise their potential and make a successful application to Oxford, even if they might not have initially believed they were Oxford material.

‘Most of the students who submitted nominations this year were the only ones at their school with the academic ability to apply to Oxford, and might not have even considered applying. This award particularly recognises those teachers who have dedicated their time and energy to helping student applicants persevere in their ambitions, no matter what.

'This year's winning teachers were those whose passion and commitment to their students had a wide impact. These teachers inspired students in their successful applications to Oxford, but also clearly helped raise the aspirations of others, and did their best to encourage all their students to be the best they could be.'

The award scheme was started in 2010 and recognises the crucial role teachers and careers advisors play in encouraging talented students in their schools or colleges. A selection of current first-year Oxford undergraduates were asked to nominate teachers or careers advisors for the award, asking them to nominate teachers who inspired them to apply to Oxford, fostered their passion for a particular subject or supported them through the application process.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton

The students were all from selected UK state schools or colleges with a limited history and tradition of sending students to Oxford.

Full list of 2011-12 Inspirational Teachers award recipients:

Robert Blyth, Head of Economics and Business Studies, Dallam School, Milnthorpe

Nominated by Damian Hahnloser, who is studying Economics and Management at Balliol College