David Jones of Pembrokeshire College wins prestigious National Teaching Award

David Jones, Learner Transition Co-ordinator of Pembrokeshire College is announced as the gold winner of the Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education in the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards on BBC’s The One Show ahead of Saturday’s awards ceremony.

David Jones, Learner Transition Co-ordinator at Pembrokeshire College has been announced as the gold winner of the Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education in the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards on BBC’s The One Show. David has been recognised for his unwavering commitment to his students and the wider school community in Pembrokeshire.

David was nominated and selected as the gold award winner from thousands of nominees based on his inspirational teaching, contributions to his school and community, and influence among colleagues, as assessed by judges.

The exciting news was broken to David at one of the College’s touch rugby games, where he and his students were surprised by a special guest – Welsh international rugby player Nicky Smith. Nicky and Kevin Duala from The One Show then announced that David had won the Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education, with two of David’s former students handing him the award.

For over six years, David has passionately served vulnerable learners with diverse needs. He’s on a mission to empower every learner, celebrating their skills, talents, and diversity, reflecting his motto ‘Let us show you what our students can do’. With a wealth of experience, he dedicates 100 hours of his spare time annually to support and coach young adults, including those in the justice system, to shine in competitions. Outside his job, he launched a unique independent living competition which allows learners with complex needs to showcase their talents and gain national recognition for their skills and abilities. He was applauded for his ability to empower students and break down barriers.

During a week-long celebration (20-24 November) honouring inspirational educators across the country, BBC’s The One Show will announce seven of 16 gold award winners of the Pearson National Teaching Awards to shine a light on their amazing achievements.

This Saturday (25 November), the awards ceremony, known as the ‘Oscars’ of the teaching profession will be hosted by presenter and radio broadcaster Gaby Roslin. The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration that honours the outstanding achievements of educators. It’s run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity now in its 25th year, and sponsored by Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. These awards celebrate the transformative impact of education, shining a spotlight on the pivotal roles of teachers, support staff, colleges, schools and early years educators and the work they deliver every single day.

Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “We all know that a great teacher can enrich your life, can help you rise to the challenge, believe in yourself, find your own voice. I know that because it happened more than once to me. That’s why these Teaching Awards are so important and important to me. Every year, without fail, we see nominations which move and inspire us and this year we have seen stellar examples of life-changing role models for young people. I want to once again congratulate the winners of the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards and thank them for the incredible impact they have on our communities.”

Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said: “It’s an honour to celebrate and express gratitude to our teachers and theincredible impact they have on our communities. The hard work that goes into teaching and showing up for students day in and day out cannot be underestimated. Congratulations to all winners and thank you for your continuous efforts.”

Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, said: “The impact of a teacher on a child’s life can be immeasurable – I know it was for me. I am so grateful to all the staff in our schools and colleges for everything they do. This year marks 25 years of the Teaching Awards Trust, which is a huge landmark. Teachers change lives and we should all feel a sense of gratitude to those we are celebrating today. Thank you again and congratulations.”

Matt Waring, Education and B2B Channel Manager at Logitech, Sponsor of The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education says: “Educators are at the forefront of student development which is especially impactful in special needs education. They nurture and inspire students daily, instilling confidence as they prepare for the future. We take great pride in our partnership with the Pearson National Teaching Awards and extend heartfelt congratulations to [award recipient] for this well-deserved recognition.”