Tutor Award Nominations 2025/26

The Get Further Tutor Academy provides year-round professional development and upskilling opportunities for our tutors through webinars, seminars, and self-study resources.

This award celebrates tutors who have shown exceptional dedication to their professional growth – those who attended the highest number of live sessions, completed the most self-study modules, and consistently demonstrated outstanding engagement throughout the year.

The nominees for this award are:

• Alan Gloucester Trotman
• Foyez Adbullah
• Handsel Nzekwe
• Marisol Kucharek
• Karen Clooney

This award celebrates the outstanding contributions of tutors who joined Get Further for the first time this academic year. 

Each of the four nominees has made an immediate and meaningful impact—building strong connections with their students, delivering high-quality sessions, and showing a real commitment to their learners’ progress from day one. 

The nominees are: 

Maddi Fitt – Our Head of Functional Skills Programmes and Partnerships, Annabel, said: “Maddi has been a fantastic tutor on our brand-new Essex programme working with NEET young people. She has formed brilliant relationships with her young people, which is reflected in their excellent attendance rates. Her optimism for her students and the programme shines through in her willingness to go above and beyond to deliver the programme successful.”  

Alana Maguire – Previous Tutor Award Winner, Manjot, said: “I want to nominate Alana Maguire for English Tutor of the Year because of her dedication and passion for helping students succeed. She is always eager to support students and goes above and beyond to ensure everyone understands the material. Alana takes the time to tailor her teaching to each student’s needs, ensuring that lessons are engaging, clear, and supportive. She creates a positive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and building their confidence in English. Her patience, encouragement, and commitment to student progress truly stand out. Alana consistently motivates students to do their best and supports them every step of the way. Because of her hard work and genuine care for her students, she is highly deserving of this nomination.” 

Sania Khan – Programme Coordinator, Andrew, said, “Sania has shown great ambition in what she wants to achieve for students at Calderdale College. As Lead Tutor she has worked with the college and me to do everything she can to help students find a session that works for them. Sania’s ambition for all students at the college has allowed her to re-engage students and encourage them through each week.” 

Foyez Abdullah – Curriculum Manager, James, said: “Foyez has a genuine love for maths and teaching. He has grown massively over the passed couple of months in his onsite communication. He does well to engage learners in lessons and prioritises onsite reengagement. Foyez has built useful onsite relationships. He has been taking initiative onsite regularly even supporting flex tutors in their development to reengage learners onsite. “

This award honours the exceptional dedication of our returning tutors – those who have supported multiple cohorts over the years and consistently go above and beyond for their students. Their ongoing commitment to both learner progress and their own professional development sets a powerful example across the programme. 

Bolu Adaramoye – Our Programme Coordinator, Alexandra, said: “Bolu is tenacious in his ability to get all students learning in his sessions. He acts as a role model to all tutors he works with and makes sure they know what it is to connect with students on a day to day basis and across the programme”  

Rachel Thomas – Our Programme Manager, Jasmine, said: “Rachel has worked with us for a couple of years now and she always retains an optimistic approach for her learners. This attitude ensures they feel like they can succeed and despite challenges or set backs that sessions with her will help then get to where they want to go.”  

Karen Clooney – Aaron’s Programme Coordinator, Sophie, said “Karen is tenacious in every sense, she never stops pushing to ensure that as many young people as possible receive our support. Her unwavering determination is the backbone of our success at LSEC.”  

Nneka Esekody – Our Programme Coordinator, Alexandra, said: “Nneka is a dedicated tutor who shows up for her students an d encourages wider development of their skills.” 

Justice Ofugara – Our Curriculum Manager, James, said: “At one point in the academic year, due to a lack of tutors in the region, the organisation was struggling to get one of our programmes off the ground. This is where Justice stepped in and stepped up. Justice was willing to travel great distances, away from his family, to tutor and support disadvantaged learners. Justice really lived up to his name, demonstrating a commitment to educational justice. 

This award celebrates tutors who truly embody the spirit of Get Further and bring our values to life through their work. At Get Further, we are:

• Bold, unafraid to challenge the status quo.

• Optimistic, maintaining belief in what’s possible—even in the face of setbacks.

• Ambitious for students who are yet to secure their gateway English and maths qualifications.

• Tenacious in our pursuit of meaningful impact for every learner we support.

These nominees have consistently demonstrated these values in action:

Timothy Burton Martin – Programme Coordinator, Andrew, said: “As a Lead Tutor Tim is fantastic his sessions are engaging and adapted to the students that come his way. He has really shone as a Lead Tutor in the way in which he has gone above and beyond to get students into sessions. The work he has done calling students, calling NOK and finding students inside and outside of their classes to check in with them and help them to get to their classes has been brilliant. He truly embodies the tenacity that all Get Further employees strive for!”

Helmy Ibrahim – Programme Coordinator, Eleanor, said: “Helmy has been an enormous support to FSQ maths learners this year. Folling the news that many of them would need to resit their FSQ maths exams, has worked extremely hard with 7+ learners, with the majority going on to pass their exams, thanks to his careful use of data from mark summaries to target the right areas in sessions. Helmy is relentlessly ambitious for every learner he tutors. Even when their confidence wavered, he held firm in the belief that they could succeed in Functional Skills Maths.” 

Jeremy Diccox – Our Curriculum Manager, James, said: “Jeremy is particularly skilled at connecting with and demonstrating rapport with some of our most vulnerable learners, including those with SEND. When tutoring, Jeremy is calm and patient, and he demonstrates wonderful empathy and compassion. One of Jeremy’s students said that the session with Jerry is the highlight of the week.” 

Manjot Singh – Programme Coordinator, Gabriella said: “Manjot has been working for Get Further for two years, and in that time his dedication to learners has been nothing short of incredible. He has a talent for building strong, trusting relationships with students and consistently strives to help every learner reach their full potential. Recently stepping into the role of Lead Tutor, Manjot has grown enormously over the past month. He approaches every challenge with enthusiasm and curiosity, always keen to refine programme delivery and support the development of his fellow tutors. His willingness to go above and beyond for his team, and for the young people we serve, makes him an exceptional colleague and a true asset to the organisation. Manjot demonstrates an unwavering belief in what learners can achieve. His positive impact is felt not only by the students he tutors, but by the entire team who benefit daily from his leadership, encouragement, and generosity of spirit. We are incredibly proud to celebrate his contribution today.”

This award recognises tutors who have gone above and beyond by stepping into a mentoring role – offering guidance, support, and inspiration to both their students and fellow tutors.

Martin Hang – Martin’s optimism in the face of challenges relating to student attendance has been truly admirable. Students have shared that Martin’s positive belief in their abilities is infectious, helping them build the confidence they need both in the classroom and when approaching their exam papers. 

Hannah Christopher – Hannah has done a fabulous job as a Lead Tutor, consistently checking in with both students and colleagues to ensure the learning environment is inclusive and welcoming. Hannah’s dedication and professionalism have made a significant impact, and working alongside her has been a genuine pleasure. Hannah is a fantastic tutor whose work inspires those around her, not only as a colleague but also as a mentor. 

Zoe Shum – Zoe’s work across both of her tutor roles at Get Further has been characterised by a clear ambition for her learners and a determination to ensure that individual needs and barriers are never left unaddressed. Zoe is an excellent tutor who expertly combines the heart of tutoring with the science of learning to create a truly positive and effective learning experience for students. Zoe is consistently warm and supportive, while explaining concepts with enviable clarity and a high level of subject expertise. 

Timothy Burton-Martin – Tim has been fantastic in his role as a Lead Tutor, delivering sessions that are consistently engaging and thoughtfully adapted to the students he works with. Tim has truly shone in his commitment to going above and beyond to support student attendance, demonstrating exceptional dedication in his approach. The work Tim has undertaken, calling students, contacting next of kin, and seeking students out both inside and outside of their classes to check in and support them into sessions, has been outstanding. Through this tenacity and determination, Tim truly embodies the values and resilience that all Get Further employees strive for. 

The nominees for this award were put forward by the people who know them best: their students. We were blown away by over 50 heartfelt nominations from learners on this year’s programmes, each one sharing just how impactful their tutor has been.

Shortlisting was no easy task, but these four tutors stood out for receiving multiple glowing nominations, filled with praise for their dedication, encouragement, and the difference they’ve made:

Nominees for the Student Choice Award have been put forward by their students, who went out of their way to get in touch to tell us how incredible their tutor is. We received over 50 heartwarming nominations from students on this year’s programmes, making it incredibly difficult to shortlist just four. The following nominees all received multiple glowing nominations from their students: 

Alan Gloucester Trotman – Student nominator said “Alan always makes sure I understand the work and he explains things properly. He’s patient and supportive, and he’s helped me build more confidence in maths.”

Joseph Pattison – Student nominator said “Absolutely amazing at teaching but also can give great advice on certain subjects in English. I also feel so much more confident in my work.”  

Katie Chapple – Student nominator said: “She is the kindest, tutor and I enjoy our sessions on monday! Even thought I don’t have college on that day. Thank you with everything you’ve helped me with, you make maths fun and learnable at the same time and I wish you would’ve been my maths teacher from the start I think then I could’ve passed: I’m sure with you as my tutor I’ll end up passing maths with at least a grade 5-6. Since she’s been my tutor i can see a difference in my work, I wouldn’t be where I am right now without her support”  

James Bristow – Student nominator said: “James is great at explaining topics aswell as patient. James approach to teaching topics to students is modeling the question and making me do it myself which i find effective and helpful.”. 

The nominees for this year’s award have been carefully selected by our English Curriculum Manager, James Lawton, in recognition of the exceptional tutoring that has had a significant impact on student progress in English. Their dedication and skill set the standard for excellence in the subject. The nominees are:

Jan Gibbons – Programme Manager, Jasmine, said, “Jan has been an absolute lifeline for supporting English students at Carlisle College. She has continuously gone above and beyond to not only travel to support them but plays an active role in supporting them to attend and raising challenges when she spots them.” 

Emma Boden – Emma’s students said “I think Emma is one of the best tutor I have had because she explain everything in way that I can understand and explain everything perfectly so I enjoy her sessions. She has really helped me with English and understanding the questions thank you Emma. Emma is really kind and patient.  She’s a great teacher and really really helpful” 

Marisol Kucharek – Marisol’s student said: “She is so nice and friendly and very understanding to talk to about English and outside of the subject.” 

Maddi Fitt – Maddi’s student said: “Thank you for being such a supportive tutor. Your patience, encouragement, and dedication have really helped me improve my English. I truly appreciate all the effort you put into every lesson.” 

This year’s nominees have been chosen by our Maths Curriculum Manager, Toni Harper, to highlight some of the finest tutoring seen in our Maths programme. These tutors have demonstrated outstanding teaching techniques and a strong commitment to student success. The nominees are:

Lorna Buhil Findlay – Programme Manager, Alexandra, said “Lorna is confident finding her students and ensuring that she reaches out to college staff to resolve any issues. She is a shining example of the amazing work and rapport students can build with their tutors.” 

Kiran G – Kiran’s student shared: “Thank you for helping me with maths even when it feels like my brain will explode from all the maths!”  

Emma Cusworth -Curriculum Manager, Toni, said: “Emma is passionate about supporting students to succeed in maths and reflects carefully on how she is able use the maths curriculum as the means to do this. Emma has a clear understanding of the approaches that will support students and effectively uses these throughout her sessions. Emma reflects after her sessions, sharing feedback with the curriculum managers, to support students beyond her own delivery.” 

Handsel Nzekwe –Handsel’s student shared: “He’s really helped me learn and progress with my maths. His friendly nature means that I wasn’t afraid to ask questions.” 

For the Tutor of the Year Award, our team carefully reviewed hundreds of nominations from across all categories, seeking out tutors who truly embody Get Further’s mission, vision, and values. The four tutors shortlisted for this special honour have demonstrated exceptional dedication, impact, and commitment to their students:

Nneka Esekody – Programme Coordinator, Eleanor, said: “Nneka brings optimism to everything she does as a Get Further tutor. The rapport she builds with her learners is exceptional, helping them grow in confidence with English and develop a genuine growth mindset. Her positivity is infectious, creating a safe, encouraging space for learners to take risks and grow. She is always early, well prepared, and consistently goes the extra mile to support her learners’ progress. It has been a joy to work with her this year!”  

Timothy Burton Martin – Our Curriculum Manager, James, said, “During his time as a tutor and Lead Tutor at Get Further, Timothy has embraced every aspect of these roles and, as a result, grown in confidence and expertise. Timothy once described himself as having ‘imposter syndrome’ (something I’m sure many of us can empathise with), but I do hope that this is no longer the case”.  

Maddi Fitt – Programme Coordinator, Eleanor, said, “The NEET programme in Essex simply wouldn’t be what it is without Maddi’s bold contribution. She has played a key role in shaping and improving the programme as it has developed. Maddi has been a wonderful tutor to all of her learners, taking an extremely learner‑centred approach and even creating personalised questions for learners to use during their pause‑point sessions, ensuring support is targeted exactly where it is needed. She has supported new tutors, met with learners’ advisors to assist with enrolment onto the programme, and has consistently gone above and beyond in every aspect of her work. Her dedication, creativity, and commitment have been invaluable to the success of the programme.”

Zoe Shum – Programme Coordinator, Emma said: “Zoe’s work in both her tutor roles with Get Further so far has been characterised by ambition for her learners, and refusal to let specific needs and barriers go unaddressed. She has always been keen to problem solve, whether this is navigating difficult conversations with grace and empathy, or tracking down missing tuition materials, and she has been a joy to work with day by day on our programmes.”