Mr Ian Redford
Teaching Awards 2008 Winner
The Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School in North East and Cumbria
Thornhill School Business & Enterprise College, SUNDERLAND
In many schools Geography is in the doldrums, but not at Thornhill School, where both pupil numbers and exam successes are on the rise. Perhaps that has something to do with the school trips - to Africa, Malaysia and shortly to the Artic Circle. Certainly it has everything to do with the energy and commitment of Ian Redford.
“Mr Redford makes the world so fun,” explains one student. Another says: “He’s one of a kind. We’ve never had a teacher like him before.”
Ian’s infectious blend of humour and professionalism add up to an outstanding and charismatic teacher – especially for inner city children whose opportunities to experience the wider world can be limited. He believes passionately in experiential learning and using his experience of world travel and of other cultures to bring Geography alive. Key Stage Three students learned some Japanese when studying Japan, built a Brazilian slum dwelling, produced a multi-media report on deforestation and installed a weather station with the help of the local TV weatherman.
He also aims to meet the needs of all pupils. His lessons are inclusive of both the most and least able, and when a boy with severe behaviour problems asked to come on a trip to Namibia, Ian ignored the advice of colleagues, raised the money for him, and included him in. The boy was transformed by the experience.
Some students have even been known to try and drop a mark or two just to get into his class, while one sixth former decided to do A Level Geography after simply waiting for her friend outside Ian’s GCSE revision classes.
Ian constantly updates his teaching skills and tries new things, yet also finds time to run a school archery club and a canoeing and kayaking club.
The Teaching Awards judges said: “He has boundless energy, enthusiasm for his profession and a commitment to the development of young people that is truly inspirational.”
