Croydon College staff invited to tea with The King and Queen
Five members of staff from Croydon College were recognised for their amazing work with an exclusive invitation to a royal garden party hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace.
The Education and Skills Garden Party recognises those working in education across the country with round 7,000 industry representatives attending.
The party took place in the beautiful gardens at the back of the Palace, where guests were treated to sandwiches, cake and tea as well as having the Yeoman of the Guard looking after them and a band for entertainment. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived and talked to guests and had tea.
Safia El Yahbak, who is Head of English and Maths at Croydon College said: “The Royal Garden Party is a day that will forever remain an incredible and unforgettable experience. It was lovely to be recognised and appreciated for our effort in ensuring our students excel in their education. It was a very enjoyable afternoon overall, which I will never forget.”
Sayeeda Ali, a lecturer in English for Speakers of Other Languages commented: “The Palace visit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was surreal to be on the other side of the gates, within a few metres of the King of England! It was a day that will always stand out as an amazing and unforgettable experience. It was truly heartwarming to be acknowledged and valued for our dedication to enhancing our students' education. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon that I will always cherish."
Sherry Dougan, Head of ESOL added: “We were honoured and privileged to attend the garden party at Buckingham Palace. It was an incredible experience and a great opportunity to see parts of the gardens not open to the public. The weather was perfect and it was lovely to see how many were there from all over the UK and that their contribution to changing lives was recognised.”
College staff, Holly Mifflin and Neil Tanner also attended the event having been nominated by their colleagues for their exceptional commitment to supporting their students and helping them to achieve. Holly, who is the teacher and tutor for the year 11s and Neil, who is the Year 11 coordinator were both immensely honoured to have been nominated to attend such a prestigious event. Neil said "It was a truly memorable occasion, and I was delighted to have been a part of it. I am very proud of the work that Holly and I do with the Year 11s and am delighted that we were both recognised for it"