A Pembrokeshire College lecturer is one of just seven education professionals from across the UK to be awarded a Technical Teaching Fellowship for 2024/25.

David Jones is Life Skills Academy Employment Coordinator at Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest.

The prestigious award, made jointly by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, was presented to David at an event in London on Friday, March 1.

David’s Fellowship will focus on developing and embedding vocational skills by creating tools and resources for use in Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. Alongside his role as Employability Coordinator, David is an advocate of utilising Skills Competitions for learners with ALN, creating opportunities for them to showcase their talents. David coordinates Pembrokeshire College's entries into inclusive/foundation skills competitions and leads on a first of its kind 'Life Skills’ competition.

Applications are assessed against criteria including demonstrating highly effective approaches to improving teaching and learning in technical education, how the Fellowship will be used to inspire others, and the planning of professional development opportunities to impact on the pedagogy and professional practice of other teachers.

Fellows are now expected to develop knowledge transfer and exchange activities, sharing effective practice at national and regional conferences and via networks, facilitating CPD and contributing to thought leadership through an established technical community of practice. They will also contribute to a final report to engage and motivate technical education practitioners in their specialist subject areas. Each receives a financial award to support their activity, guaranteed remission time and is allocated a mentor to support them for the duration of the programme.

All Fellows now also become alumni of the Royal Commission, providing them with further support to drive quality improvement in technical STEM teaching and training and the opportunity to access further funding.

John Lavery, Secretary of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, said: “The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 congratulates all the new Technical Teaching Fellows and is thrilled to welcome them to the 1851 community.”

For further details of the Technical Teaching Fellowships, visit the ETF website.