A Derry teacher has been awarded for his "outstanding commitment" to changing the lives of the children he works with every day.
Ivor Neill has been named as one of 80 Pearson National Teaching Award Silver Award winners across the UK.
Mr Neill, who is a sports lecturer at North West Regional College, has been honoured with a Silver Award in the category of FE Lecturer of the Year.
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As a Silver Award winner, Ivor has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme to be broadcast on the BBC.
Recognition of this once in a lifetime achievement will be broadcast on the BBC’s The One Show as part of a week-long celebration of teaching, which sees famous faces honour award winners every night in the run up to the ceremony.
Ivor recently finished first in the Crossfit Open Men’s 65 and over category with a worldwide ranking of 156.
He was also cast as the ‘Viking ship skipper’ in the recently released Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Northman’ alongside Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgård.
Described by colleagues as caring, kind and enchanting, Ivor uses a wide range of teaching methods to maximise students’ potential and ensure that his lessons are active and engaging.
A spokesperson for the college said: "He breathes life into his subjects through engagement with local industry providers, visits to facilities, bringing in guest speakers, arranging expeditions and excursions.
"Using his life experiences Ivor is known for lighting up his lessons.
"After a long career teaching, Ivor remains highly enthusiastic and motivated and his keenness for his modules is contagious.
"He is a firm believer in exposure to experiences and learning opportunities for his students. In this belief, he actively pursues opportunities for students to learn."
The Silver Award winners are being honoured as part of the wider celebrations for national ‘Thank a Teacher Day’, bringing together everyone across the country to celebrate the schools and colleges at the heart of our communities.
Sinead O’Brien, Curriculum Manager for Sport said: “Ivor brings his students on a learning adventure inspiring them to embrace challenge and to persevere in their quest for academic success.
"Our learners are drawn to Ivor because of his genuine interest in their success and development. His caring and kind nature is enchanting and aligned with his professional approach to his work. Ivor is changing the lives of young people every day and thoroughly deserves this award.”
Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “For so many of us, it was someone at school who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, and set us on a path that we have followed ever since."
The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with.
Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said: “Congratulations to today’s Silver Award winners on their incredible achievement, they should all feel very proud of themselves.
"And thank you to all the incredible educators and support staff across this country who really do make our schools and colleges so special. I am delighted that we can take this opportunity to say how much we appreciate all that you do for the young people in your care.”
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