Teacher receives award for ‘going above and beyond’

Congratulations to New City College lecturer Sunny Bamra who has received a Jack Petchey Lockdown School Hero Award for going ‘above and beyond’.

Sunny, who leads the Engineering and Automotive department at NCC’s Ardleigh Green and Rainham campuses in Havering, was nominated by one of his students for the support he gave during the Covid lockdowns.

He received a Lockdown School Hero certificate and a letter from Jack Petchey himself, which stated: “You are having such a positive impact by going the extra mile in these difficult times. The pandemic has been very disruptive to young people’s education but your actions have supported students when they needed it most.”

Gabriel May, from the Jack Petchey Foundation said: “There has been a high number of impressive nominations submitted for this award and Sunny’s was deemed especially outstanding by our judges. He should feel very proud. Many congratulations on such excellent work and on winning this well-deserved award.”

A delighted Sunny said: “This award should not just focus on one individual, but the whole Automotive and Engineering department. The teachers here are the true heroes. Throughout this pandemic they have broken down barriers to support their students and never gave up.

“As a team we constantly looked at innovative ways to better the learner experience, trying to think of ways to keep them engaged and on track, both educationally and with their mental well-being.”

He added: “I am in education for the sole purpose to make a difference in the lives of learners, to prepare them for the world of work or apprenticeships, and equip them with necessary life skills. Education matters and what we do as teachers is ever lasting. I love my profession and I love making that difference.”