IET sponsored winners are revealed

14 November 2008

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has sponsored two awards at the Scottish Technology Teachers' Awards (TTA).The winners were revealed at a conference held at Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh.

The IET sponsored the IET Award for Lifetime Achievement within Technology Education and the IET Faraday Award for Raising the Profile of Technology Education, which is for a pupil.

The Chairman of the IET Scotland science, education and management technical professional network (TPN), Ron McMurtrie presented the awards. Both winners received a trophy and a cheque for £100.

Jimmy Johnson MBE received the IET Award for Lifetime Achievement within Technology Education. Due to his current illness, Mr Johnson has retired from his much-loved career as a teacher.

After leaving Woodside secondary school, he started an apprenticeship with Barr and Stroud as a scientific instrument maker. This was the gateway to his career, as Mr Johnson moved on to a research contract at University of Glasgow which came from the Rolls Royce’s carbon fibre blade initiative and was doing stress analysis on composite plastic materials.

Whilst working at the University, Mr Johnson became actively involved in local youth clubs, which inspired him to become a teacher. He qualified in 1977, after attending the Jordanhill College. Mr Johnson took his first step into teaching at St Pius Secondary in Drumchapel, where he had big success in his venture into table tennis with the school club for almost a decade.

Towards the late 1980s, Mr Johnson gained a couple of words behind his name and became the principal Teacher in Springburn. He rapidly built a reputation for encouraging young students to achieve goals beyond their dreams. This action gained the school a Director’s Certificate for Achievement, which is a very rare occurrence. Mr Johnson was soon back to his engineering roots, as his young engineers were recognised nationally and internationally.

It comes as no surprise that Mr Johnson has an award for his unquestionable achievements. The awards include The Sunday Post Teacher of the Year in 1990. He was also nominated as ‘The Inspirational Teacher of the Year – 2001’, which resulted in an invitation to tea with Prime Minister and Mrs Blair at number 10 Downing Street.

Mr Johnson has served on the TTA Executive Committee for 20 years and held numerous executive committee posts including, journal editor, minute secretary and twice president.

Ron McMurtrie said, “Jimmy's award is extremely well deserved for both his immense contribution to the TTA over many years and formal recognition of his achievements in developing technical education in Scotland. His enthusiasm has inspired many young people and it gave me much pleasure to be invited to present this award on behalf of the IET.”

Fiona Scott received the IET Faraday Award for Raising the Profile of Technology Education. For the last six years, Ms Scott has been an outstanding student, excelling in the product design subject. After sailing through her educational life, it was not surprising that Ms Scott pursued her career in product design at Glasgow School of Art.

Ms Scott is admired for her hard work, dedication and her genuine passion for product design. She produces not just design work to exceptionally high standard, but the depth and detail of written work in her unit work is also incredible. If exemplar material had to be used to demonstrate to others that all of the learning outcomes and performance criteria had been met, then it would be her work that would always be front of mind.

Ron McMurtrie said, “Overall, the achievements of the young people being presented with awards on the day does great credit to the standard of their work in design and technology and the teachers who encourage them. All in all, this event illustrated there are still young people able to meet the challenges of design and technology and keeping engineering alive in Scotland."

The winners received their prize on Saturday (1 November) at Mary Erskine School in Edinburgh.

Media enquiries to:

Robert Beahan
IET Press Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org

Mary Donovan
IET Head of Communications
T: +44 (0)1438 765587
M: +44 (0)7725 498117
E: mdonovan@theiet.org