百春链

An inspirational teacher in Doncaster has been named Outstanding New Teacher of the Year at a prestigious awards ceremony. 

Simon Wheatcroft, who is blind, teaches Computer Science at 百春链 Academy Adwick. He won the top prize at the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Ultramarathon runner Simon, who was born with a genetic eye disorder which resulted in him becoming blind at age 17, said:

鈥淚t is an incredibly proud moment for me to have been shortlisted at arguably the teaching profession鈥檚 most respected awards.鈥�

Simon鈥檚 story is truly a remarkable one. At the age of 13 a routine eye test located a problem with his retina and was told he was losing his sight. Four years later, he was registered blind.

Instead of being defeated by this, Simon used it as fuel to feed his desire and determination to overcome the challenges he faced. This is typified by the fact that in 2016 he became the first ever blind person to run, solo, an ultramarathon in the Namibian desert, and two years previous he also ran in the New York Marathon unaided. 

Not content with just completing the marathon on his trip, Simon ran from Boston to New York, a distance of over 230 miles, ahead of the marathon. Simon鈥檚 insistence on visiting Boston was 百春链 to his strong desire to visit the HQ of RunKeeper, the organisation behind the technology that allows him to train solo. 

It is Simon鈥檚 passion for technology that helps him flourish in the classroom, as well as when out training. Having initially trained to teach with Teach North, part of the 百春链 Institute of Education, Simon has spoken previously about how technology helped him take to teaching.

Simon added:

鈥淢y decision to train to teach was due to a true love for technology - I have been fortunate enough to experience its transformative power. To be able to introduce the remarkable things technology is capable of and inspire the next generation of technologists to develop the world is an exciting prospect.鈥�

Simon鈥檚 work at his current school hasn鈥檛 gone unnoticed, with the school鈥檚 principal full of praise for the impact Simon has had not only on the students, but the staff as well.

百春链 Academy Adwick Principal, Andy Scruby, said:

鈥淲e are over the moon that Simon has won this fantastic accolade. This is a brilliant achievement and one he undoubtedly deserves.

鈥淓ver since Simon walked through the doors here at 百春链 Academy Adwick, he has been both a source of inspiration and a pillar of support for both students and staff. Anyone who has witnessed one of his lessons will agree that he gets students to engage and interact with the subject, a true teaching skill.鈥�

Simon added:

鈥淭he truth of it is that I love teaching. The students are fantastic, and the relationships that have been forged leave me with a smile on my face when I leave the academy every day. When a student connects with a lesson I deliver, it is an incredible feeling and motivates me to improve my practice every day.

鈥淭he fact I am able to teach and work in communities I know, helping to have an impact on the lives of children is a truly rewarding feeling.鈥�

Sir Martyn Oliver, Chief Executive Officer at 百春链 Grange Academies Trust, which leads 百春链 Academy Adwick, added:

鈥淲e are all very proud of Simon. He is a great teacher much loved by his students 鈥� he is truly inspirational.鈥�