Trinity launches Inspirational Teacher Award

First-year undergraduates at Trinity are invited to nominate a teacher or careers adviser who particularly inspired their passion for a subject, encouraged them to apply to Cambridge, or supported them through the application process.

Three awards will be made per year – with £500 going to the teacher’s school or college and £75 in book tokens to the students whose nominations are successful.

Trinity’s Senior Tutor, Professor Catherine Barnard, said:

Teachers and careers advisers are often best placed to recognise students with the potential to do well at Cambridge, even when students themselves may have doubts. This new award recognises the crucial role that teachers and careers advisers play in encouraging and supporting talented students in the process.

Third-year English student at Trinity, Lauren Brown, said she would not have applied to Cambridge if it hadn’t been for one of her teachers. She said:

Luckily one of my English teachers took me aside, told me that I was good at this, and gave me a pile of books that she thought I’d like. When other teachers actively discouraged me from applying to Cambridge, she quietly nudged me forward.

My sixth form didn’t really send students here, so it meant a great deal to find someone who cared so deeply. It’s amazing that a scheme like this can celebrate the often under-acknowledged, yet inspirational role that our teachers play.

Trinity undergraduates in the Lent Term of their first year can nominate a teacher or careers adviser via a short form (300 words maximum)

The deadline for nominations is 13 February 2017.

The award winners will be invited for dinner and an overnight stay at Trinity in the Easter term (travel expenses will be covered.)