IOE alumnus wins FE Teacher of the Year award

Paul studied PGCE (Post-Compulsory Education) at the IOE, graduating in 2009. He is now the complex needs course manager at Barnet and Southgate College. The programme he leads has been praised by Ofsted and local authorities for enabling "momentous and visible" progress for students with profound learning difficulties. 

During his 16-year career, Paul has developed innovative curriculum approaches and driven student-centred practice. He played a key role in engaging students and locals to design the College's new Blue Beanz Learning Disability Centre of Excellence, and his outstanding use of digital technology led to the introduction of "touch floor" technologies for wheelchair users.

A spokesman from Barnet and Southgate College said: "[Paul] is passionate about college-wide disability integration, and is admired for always going the extra mile to ensure the best possible learning outcomes."

Paul's tutor from 2008-9, Nick Woollcombe, added: "Being Paul's tutor was an unforgettable experience. He was always focused on his students and their individual needs, which meant constantly finding ways in which to engage and stimulate them.

" "Being Paul's tutor was an unforgettable experience. He was always focused on his students and their individual needs, which meant constantly finding ways in which to engage and stimulate them.

"This often meant moving away from the traditional classroom setting into the great outdoors where his students would be enthusiastically learning about plants, seeds and other botanical matters.  His enthusiasm was infectious and I learnt a great deal from my observations of Paul's teaching."

The judges felt McTernan's application was compelling, with clear evidence of sustained impact over time. They said: "The strength of this year's entries was extraordinary. Finally, we settled on an exceptional teacher who, through many years of commitment and excellence, exemplifies the FE sector's life-changing power."

" "Finally, we settled on an exceptional teacher who, through many years of commitment and excellence, exemplifies the FE sector's life-changing power."

The IOE is also thrilled to announce that, as part of its Teach Too initiative, ELATT Connected Learning has won the Employer Engagement award. The judges felt that the model "pioneered a new approach to employer engagement" and demonstrated a "fantastic commitment to supporting learners."

" The judges felt that the model "pioneered a new approach to employer engagement" and demonstrated a "fantastic commitment to supporting learners." 

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• Paul McTernan is Teacher of the Year (image courtesy of TES Awards)