A business lecturer at Bridgwater College has been shortlisted to one of only six in the country to become the Times Educational Supplement (TES) Further Education Teacher of the Year 2015.
Nick Tasker, was nominated by the College, not only for his passion for his vocation and innovative methods of teaching, which include using boxes of props that allow him to incorporate metaphors to reinforce his lessons, but also the impressive success rates he continues to produce year after year. His course success in 2013/14 was 90%, which is 15% above the national average and last year 85% of Nick’s students were guaranteed employment or university places before the end of their course.
Nick’s hard work continues out of the classroom; since 1995 he has worked to create a typeface for students with dyslexia and other visual processing disorders. The font, known as Dyscover, makes letters unique and uses clinical colour referencing that can be tailored to meet each individual student’s needs.
The nomination for this prestigious award was supported by countless testimonials by Nick’s peers and students. Danielle Stone, a former student said,
“Nick really changed my approach to College and how I viewed my future. I know the College is proud of how he has transformed the course, and students are grateful for how he has helped changed our lives. Now I can face the future armed with everything Nick has taught us about life and work, he really is the greatest.”
Nick, who is Programme Manager for Business at Bridgwater College, said,
“I am extremely flattered to have been shortlisted for such a prestigious award and just to be nominated is a huge achievement in itself. Finding innovative ways of helping individual students maximise their learning gives me a real buzz and they reward me by achieving superb results. I truly believe that the reason for my success is the great students I am surrounded by. Whatever the outcome, seeing the lifelong transformation in my students during their time with us is the greatest reward.”
The award ceremony will be held at Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lance, London on Friday 27 February.
