Aziza Chaudry, Adult Education Wolverhampton’s Senior Manager for Curriculum and Quality, has supported adult learners to improve their prospects for more than 30 years.
She has worked for Adult Education Wolverhampton for over a decade, during which time the service has undergone a dramatic transformation – with performance and outcomes for students now well above the national average.
The nomination stated: "Aziza consistently demonstrates inspirational and highly effective leadership. She has an unshakeable focus on providing outstanding educational experiences for adults and securing positive outcomes for them.
"Aziza’s leadership and management has been responsible for raising and sustaining exceptionally high standards and the embedding of a culture of excellence, development and continuous improvement across the service.
“This has had a positive impact on the 2,750 adults a year that study at Adult Education Wolverhampton to benefit from high quality, relevant, well thought out and enjoyable learning programmes."
It added: "The overall performance of an organisation cannot usually be linked so directly to the impact of the work and effectiveness of an individual – but without her, Adult Education Wolverhampton would not have managed such a transformation."
Aziza said: "I feel humbled and very moved by the sentiments behind the nomination.
"Education has always been a key passion within my family. Adult education in particular can be truly transformational in the contribution it can and does make in delivering social justice and equality.
"I have been very blessed in having had the pleasure and privilege to work in Wolverhampton with some of the best of the best adult education staff and students anywhere. I am accepting this award on their behalf."
Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "This is a richly deserved award.
“Aziza has helped change the lives of thousands of learners in Wolverhampton and the impact of her leadership can be seen in Adult Education Wolverhampton's transformation over the last decade or so, with all key performance indicators now well above the national average."
Pat Carrington, Chair of HOLEX, the lead professional body for Adult Community Education and Learning, said: “We congratulate Aziza on her award; she has worked diligently for many years and deserves to be recognised for her work.
“We are delighted that our members’ work is being acknowledged in the New Year Honours 2020 list. They all are fantastic advocates for adult education and demonstrate the true values of adult education.
“We are all very excited that adult education and lifelong learning has received recognition in this round, with 5 of our members receiving an honour. We all feel very passionate about our work and we know that, going forward, we need to be centre stage in preparing people for the jobs of the future, improving integration and individual wellbeing.”
Adult Education Wolverhampton offers a wide range of high quality academic and informal courses, whether people want to develop new skills or simply learn for pleasure.
There are courses to help train for a specific job or career and get on the fast track to university. Other courses can help people brush up on their English and Maths skills or build personal confidence. Many courses are free to participants or are available at a reduced rate, depending on the course and the individual's circumstances.
For more information, please visit Adult Education Wolverhampton or call 01902 558180.
