AN inspirational teacher has been honoured by Oxford University for the positive impact he has had on his students.

Steve Jolley, the head of sixth form at The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh, is one of ten teachers from across the country to have won a 2019 Oxford University inspirational teacher award.

Echo:

Student - Lewis Davies is now studying law at Pembroke College, Oxford.

A number of first-year Oxford undergraduates were asked to nominate teachers who inspired them to apply to Oxford. The students selected were all from state schools or colleges without an established tradition of sending students to Oxford.

Mr Jolley was nominated by Lewis Davies, who is currently studying Law, at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Mr Jolley, a politics teacher, said: “I am very proud to have been nominated by Lewis for this award. I feel the fundamental essence of being a teacher is to care for the development, well-being and future progression of all students that you teach.

“This means that you forge different relationships with different students as they all require different levels of support.

“With Lewis, he had the core attributes of an excellent student and the potential to mature into an outstanding young man, but his life and circumstances had made his progress more challenging.

“I hope that I was able to maintain his focus on his studies, to provide pastoral support where needed and also to criticise his decisions if appropriate.”

Lewis said: “I nominated Mr Jolley for this award as he spent countless hours listening and setting up supportive measures for me in ways that nobody else would have cared to.

“I am the only person in my family to have ever gone beyond GCSE level education and that in itself is testament to the incredible amount of patience and dedication he showed me throughout. He is the male role model that my background could never offer me.

“I have no clue where I would be if I had not met him. And for that, I am forever thankful.”