Inspirational teachers from across the country have been honoured today for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of children.
A total of 68 winners have scooped silver awards in the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards.
The winners (full list below), announced to coincide with ‘Thank a Teacher Day’ today, will now be shortlisted to win just one of 13 gold awards at the final – known as the UK’s ‘Oscars for Teachers’.
The 21st awards event will be held at the Roundhouse in October.
Author Michael Morpurgo, president of the Teaching Awards Trust, which runs the event, said:
“So often and for so many of us, it is a teacher who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, set us on a path that we have followed ever since.”
Recognising and celebrating teachers for the lasting impact they have on young people’s lives is crucial
As part of the celebrations this year, members of the public can say a special thank-you to a teacher who has made a difference in their lives by leaving a message on an online form at www.teachingawards.com/card, and the teacher will receive a card in the post for free.
Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said “recognising and celebrating teachers for the lasting impact they have on young people’s lives is crucial”.
“On Thank A Teacher Day, it’s a wonderful chance for them to say thank you to their award-winning teachers.
“We mustn’t forget that these pupils may well be the next generation of teachers, and that’s all thanks to the commitment of those currently in the profession.”
The silver award trophies will be presented to outstanding teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers and lecturers in schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, following thousands of nominations.
Last year, Chris Flathers, of the Gold Star Federation, London, won primary headteacher of the year and Leanne Griffiths, from Morley Academy, Leeds, won secondary head of the year at the awards bash hosted by BBC presenters Anita Rani and Sean Fletcher.
The full list of silver award winners:
The Award for Digital Innovator of the Year
Mr Scott Hayden, Basingstoke College of Technology, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Mr Esam Baboukhan, City of Westminster College, London
Mr Stephen Sadler, East Barnet School, Barnet, Hertfordshire
Mr Matt Murphy, Stone Soup Academy, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Mrs Sharon Bruton, The Keys Federation Academy Trust, Wigan, Lancashire
The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education
Ms Tina Murray, Barham Primary School, Wembley, Middlesex
Mrs Teresa Mason, High Close School, Wokingham, Berkshire
Mrs Morag Colley, Kingsmead Academy, Taunton, Somerset
Miss Marie Duffy, Percy Shurmer Academy, Birmingham, West Midlands
Mrs Lisa Webb, Raynsford Academy, Henlow, Bedfordshire
The Award for FE Lecturer of the Year
Mrs Heather Houston, Belfast Metropolitan College, Belfast, Antrim
Mr Brian Banks, City College Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon
Ms Bina Pawar, City of Westminster College, Paddington, London
Miss Nicola Manning, One Sixth Form College, Ipswich, Suffolk
Mr Duncan Cameron, Strode College, Somerset
The Award for FE Team of the Year
Hospitality and Catering Team, London South East Colleges, Bromley, Kent
Sunderland College’s Music Team, City of Sunderland College, Sunderland, Wearside
Catering team, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Warwickshire
SERC Science Team, South Eastern Regional College, Lisburn, Antrim
Sport, PE & Dance Team, Wyke Sixth Form College, Hull, East Yorkshire
The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School
Mr Aaron Meredith, Ernesettle Community School, Plymouth, Devon
Mrs Claire Robinson, Holy Evangelists’ Primary School, Belfast, Antrim
Mr Paul Slater, Trumacar Nursery and Community Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School
Mrs Lynne Fox, Bramhall High School, Stockport, Cheshire
Mr George Croxford, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
Mr Sheldon Logue, St. Damian’s RC Science College, Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire
The Award for Lifetime Achievement
Ms Teresa Roche, Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, Dronfield, Derbyshire
Mr Keith Berry, Park Community Academy, Blackpool, Lancashire
Mr Frank McCarron, Stockport Academy, Stockport, Cheshire
Mr David Blow, The Ashcombe School, Dorking, Surrey
The Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year
Ms Sharmin Rahman, Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England Primary School, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Ms India Brown, Fulham Cross Girls’ School and Language College, Fulham, London
Mr Connor Goulding, Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School, Westhoughton, Bolton
Ms Natalie Wilsher, The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
Miss Francesca Buckland, World’s End Junior School, Birmingham, West Midlands
The Award for Primary School of the Year
Kentmere Academy and Nursery, Rochdale, Greater Manchester
Westleigh Methodist Primary School, Leigh, Lancashire
Delph Side Community Primary School, Skelsmersdale, Lancashire
Flakefleet Primary School, Fleetwood, Lancashire
St John’s Primary School, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
The Award for Secondary School of the Year
Carlton Bolling College, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, Wirral, Merseyside
Stockport Academy, Stockport, Cheshire
The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School
Miss Collette Donnelly, Lyndhurst Primary School, Oldham, Lancashire
Mrs Fliss Prior, Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy, Nottingham
Mrs Angela Hilton, Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy, Ferryhill, County Durham
Ms Rebecca Proctor, Downham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Billericay, Essex
Mrs Lyn Campbell, Edwards Hall Primary School, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Miss Charlotte Bartlam, Fairmeadows Foundation Primary School, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
Ms Jade Herbeaut, Roebuck Academy, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Ms Diane Martin, St Anne’s Church Academy, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
Ms Siobhan Freeman, William Davis Primary School, London
The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School
Mr Samuel Jones, Hele’s School, Plymouth, Devon
Mrs Sara Sinaguglia, St Edwards RC/CofE School, Poole, Dorset
Ms Sarah Brownell, Beverley High School, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
Miss Leah Kemp, Birtenshaw School, Bolton, Lancashire
Ms Courtney Hosp, Fulham Cross Girls’ School and Language College, Fulham, London
Ms Claudia Windley, Greensward Academy, Hockley, Essex
Mr Dean Ralph, High Close School, Wokingham, Berkshire
Mr Ed Le Brun, Kings College Guildford, Guildford, Surrey
Mr Graeme Erickson, North Liverpool Academy, Liverpool, Merseyside
Ms Nicola Whiston, Ormiston Horizon Academy, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
Miss Pippa Wadey, Putney High School, London
Mr Simon Gunstone, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
The Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year
Miss Anastasia Nicholls, Abingdon House School, London
Mrs Nina Thomas, Goldsmith Primary Academy, Walsall, West Midlands
Ms Jacqueline McQuade, Regent High School, Camden, London
Mr Paul McCauley, Selly Park Girls School, Birmingham, West Midlands
Five awards for Primary School of the Year – three in Lancashire, one in Greater Manchester and one in Tyne & Wear.
Three awards for Secondary School of the Year – one in West Yorkshire, one in Merseyside and one in Cheshire.
Is it just me thinking it’s a bit odd that all nine ‘Schools of the Year’ are north of Liverpool?