Wiltshire teacher celebrates 50 years of dedication to education with Lifetime Achievement Award
A Wiltshire based school teacher who has dedicated his life to education has this year been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the Times Educational Supplement (TES) Schools Awards and financial services provider, Teachers Assurance.
Schoolteacher Peter Sheppard from Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire has shown his dedication and commitment to the education industry for half a century, proving himself to be one of the most dedicated and passionate educators in the country. Even more inspiring is the fact that Mr Sheppard has taught at the same school, the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, for 47 years, first taking up his position in 1966.
Having been identified early in his career as a talented teacher, Mr Sheppard has held a number of successful positions throughout his 50 years’ of service such as head of English, head of sixth form and deputy head. While he remains humble about his achievements it is clear that his true passion lies within the English language, a subject he has enthusiastically taught for over 40 years.
Mr Sheppard’s Lifetime Achievement prize was awarded by the TES Schools Awards and presented by Teachers Assurance at a celebratory ceremony held in Westminster, London in July. While Mr Sheppard was aware that his colleagues, in conjunction with past and present pupils, had put him forward for the award, the win still came as an overwhelming surprise.
“I found out that I had won on the day of the awards, when the editor of the TES suddenly started talking about me. My first thought when I heard his comments was that there couldn’t possibly be anyone else in the room to which those facts apply. Then when he mentioned my name, I was sure it was me! While I hadn’t planned a speech, I thought it apt to stand up and say ‘It’s been a brilliant 50 years doing one of the greatest jobs you can do, in a wonderful school. We have more than our fair share of hardworking pupils at the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and I’d like to do another 50 years please.’”
The TES Schools Awards are now in their fifth year, and are designed to celebrate those schools, individuals and teams whose dedication, innovation and hard work make a real difference for both their pupils and communities. This year marks the first that financial services provider, Teachers Assurance has been involved with the awards, having selected to sponsor the coveted Lifetime Achievement prize.
Abby Bowman, Head of Brand at Teachers Assurance has expressed her joy at the company’s involvement: “We are very proud to have had the pleasure or presenting Mr Sheppard with his Lifetime Achievement Award. As a company we teamed up with the TES Schools Awards in order to honour the
hard work and dedication of the many unsung heroes within the teaching industry. Mr Sheppard is an incredibly inspiring educator, something that has been proven not only in his success within the profession, but also through the support shown by colleagues and pupils alike.”
While Mr Sheppard has surpassed the age at which many teachers would make the difficult decision to retire, he is already looking forward to returning to the Wootton Bassett Academy after the summer holidays, where he will resume his now part-time position as an English teacher. For the meantime, he hopes to enjoy some fair weather games of pétanque, a possible holiday to Pembrokeshire and finally to fulfil his hopes of authoring a book based on anecdotes from the past.
Teachers Assurance is a financial services provider offering a range of savings, investment, home insurance, health and life cover products for individuals and their families that are designed with teachers in mind. To find out more visit www.teachersassurance.co.uk or call 0800 056 0563.
For further information:
Laura Bentham, Social Media & PR Executive
01202 435112
lbentham@teachersassurance.co.uk
www.teachersassurance.co.uk/press
Teachers Assurance is a trading name of Teachers Provident Society Limited (TPS), an incorporated friendly society No. 372F. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Teachers Financial Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of TPS, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority entered on the Financial Services register no. 415652. Registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: Tringham House, Deansleigh Road, Bournemouth, BH7 7DT. 1433113.
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