For music tutor, Andrew Rae, teaching is not just a job but is his passion and as a result students have showed their thanks by secretly nominating him for a teaching award.
Andrew, (32), who has been a tutor at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology for nearly 10 years, has been anonymously nominated for a teaching award as part of The Teaching Awards Trust.
A student who is yet to be named put Andrew forward for the Trust’s ‘thank a teacher’ campaign and if he’s put through to the final will be chauffeured down to London to the feature on the BBC 2 showing of the awards.
Speaking of the whole experience, Andrew said: “I was really quite shocked and it certainly made my day. It is nice to know that one, or a group of my students have actively gone to lengths of nominating me. Just being nominated is special enough.”
Andrew suspects a group of Level 3 second year students are behind the nomination after working with them for a number of years teaching studio recording and music business.
“I try to teach in exciting and interesting ways so for the students they often learn without even realising it,” said Andrew. “I have worked with some students over a number of years so you really do get to know them and get to watch them grow academically.”
Andrew who lives in Barnsley was recruited by the College back in 2003 after one of the Curriculum Leaders at the College experienced some of Andrew’s work he was doing for a local community group.
“I was new to teaching back then but once I got a taste of it, I knew it was something I wanted to do.
“I believe if you teach in a friendly and fair way, give them structured and interesting lessons then learning comes easy and teaching becomes a pleasure.”
Andrew is now waiting to see if he goes through to the finals where he will finally find out who is behind his nomination.
For more information about music courses at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology call the Student Services Team on 08080 722 777 or email info@rotherham.ac.uk.