A SPECIALIST college near Oswestry is celebrating after two members of staff were recognised with national awards.

Steve Evans and Jessie Vaughan from Derwen College in Gobowen, received accolades in the Pearson National Teaching awards.

Steve, who is the college’s sports and leisure co-ordinator, was honoured with a silver in The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education for his outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the young people he works with every day. 

Meanwhile, performing art and work skills lead Jessie was also recognised with a bronze award in the Digital Innovator of the Year category.

Meryl Green, Derwen College principal and chief executive officer, praised the pair.

“We are proud and delighted that Steve and Jessie’s amazing work has been recognised in this way," she said.  

"Despite the incredible outcomes that their students achieve they remain modest and firmly grounded.

"For both, students are always centre stage, and going ‘over and above’ is just the norm.

"At Derwen College, we believe that young people with SEND deserve the best possible life chances and are proud to have staff who do everything in their power to achieve this.

"Both Jessie and Steve really are an inspiration to students and the colleagues working alongside them.”

Steve was rewarded for a determination to bring out the best in every student, who have a wide variety of complex special educational needs and disabilities, and some of them arrive at college believing that sport is not for them.

By partnering with community and national sports organisations, Steve has enabled a wide and inclusive range of opportunities for the college’s residential and day students.

He has now been shortlisted to win one of just 15 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme which will be broadcast on the BBC.

Jessie was honoured for her commitment to embracing technology to engage with students at home and at college, using online meetings, social media and videos during lockdown, thinking creatively to make sure each and every student felt a part of college even if they were based miles away.

Derwen College held a virtual awards event to reveal the exciting news that they had a bronze and silver winner on the staff with local representatives attending.