Achievements highlight commitment to high-quality teaching and lifelong learning
UCS College Group is celebrating the achievements of a member who have reached important milestones in their professional development.
Criminology teacher Sarah Shaw has achieved Chartered Teacher Status. She was awarded the accreditation in March 2025 and celebrated her graduation at the British Library in London this year.
Recognising excellence in teaching
Chartered Teacher Status recognises educators who show a high level of skill and a strong commitment to their profession. Sarah’s work reflects these standards in her day-to-day teaching.
She supports her students with care and consistency. She also contributes to the wider teaching community. As a result, her achievement highlights both her dedication and her impact in the classroom.
This recognition not only celebrates her current work but also gives her the opportunity to help shape teaching practice in the future.
Continuing to learn and grow
Alongside this, another member of staff, Irena, has recently completed a Masters in Translation. She studied online with the University of Bristol over three years while continuing her teaching role.
Her passion for languages began early. She supported her parents with translation and interpretation as a child. This experience now shapes the way she supports her own students.
Reflecting on her achievement, Irena said:
“I started my Masters in Translation three years ago and studied online with Bristol University. I have translated and interpreted since I was a child, supporting my parents with understanding English, something I now see in my own language students.
I wanted to develop my skills in French, Italian and Russian, and the course was excellent for that. Being a student has been very beneficial, as it has helped me pass skills onto my students and better understand their experience in the classroom.
For my dissertation, I focused on a literary piece, translating part of a Russian play that has never been translated before. It was written by a contemporary of Anton Chekhov called Vikenty Veresaev. I am continuing this work and hope to see it performed in the UK in the future.
Irena
Inspiring students through experience
Both achievements highlight the value of continued learning. They also show how staff bring real experience into the classroom.
By developing their own skills, staff can better support students and create a more engaging learning environment. In turn, this helps students feel more confident and motivated in their own studies.
UCS College Group remains committed to supporting staff development. This ensures students benefit from high-quality teaching and up-to-date knowledge across all subject areas.
To find out more about courses at UCS College Group, visit www.ucscollegegroup.ac.uk.