About the Teaching Awards

Help us celebrate schools

An annual celebration of teaching and learning. 

You can nominate a school, teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants, learning partners and school governors for a Teaching Award and anyone can nominate.

We all know that these are inspirational people who help change lives for the better.  Help us celebrate their achievements and reward their dedication by nominating the unsung heroes in our schools.

Anyone can make a nomination online at www.teachingawards.com.  It is a quick and easy process which only takes a few minutes, but it's the best way to say thank you to someone who transforms young people's lives.

The Teaching Awards is open to every education establishment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland teaching pupils between the ages of three and 18.  The Awards were founded by Lord Puttnam CBE in 1998 and are managed by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity.

5 good reasons to make a nomination for the Teaching Awards:

• Teachers transform lives and help young people realise their potential; help us celebrate this exceptional profession
• You know that outstanding work goes on in schools every day; this is your chance to shout about it
• Winning a Teaching Award is a celebration for the whole school community
• The Teaching Awards give schools the opportunity to network and share expertise
• Teachers are passionate about teaching and learning; help us tell their stories and celebrate excellence in education

Next steps

School Endorsement

Every nomination must be endorsed by the headteacher of a member of the senior management team before it can progress to the next stage.  The endorsement process is online and it is at this stage that you will be asked to select an appropriate category. 

Shortlsting

Teaching Awards judging panes include leading educationalists, Teaching Award winners and others dedicated ot the teaching profession.  Judges read every endorsed nomination and shortlist nominees.  This process is followed by a visit to each finalist at their school.

Teaching Awards ceremonies

Teaching Awards ceremonies are held across the English regions, Wales and Northern Ireland in the summer term.  All finalists are invited to attend and it is at these ceremonies that winners are announced and celebrated.

The Teaching Awards winners' weekend

All Teaching Award winners are invited to attend the winners' weekend in the autumn term where a gala dinner is held in their honour.  During the weekend, national Teaching Award winners are announced at the UK ceremony which is filmed and broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.

Teaching Awards categories for 2009

• The Award for Special Needs Teacher of the Year
• The TDA Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year
• The Becta Award for Next Generation Learning
• The BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School
• The DCSF Award for Governor of the Year
• The DCSF Award for Sustainable Schools
• The Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School
• The NCSL Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School
• The Royal Air Force Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School
• The SSAT Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year
• The DCSF Award for Enterprise
• The Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement
• The Welsh Assembly Government Award for the Promotion of the Welsh Language in a School (Wales only)

• Q

  Who can make a nomination?

• AAnyone - teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants, governors, parents, pupils and the general public – can make a nomination. Once we receive a nomination we will forward it to the nominee\'s school. For the nomination to proceed to the next stage the headteacher or a member of the school\'s senior management team must endorse it.

• Q

  Who are the nominations open to?

• A

  The Teaching Awards are open to every educational establishment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including schools, pupil referral units and sixth-form colleges whether state maintained or independent.

  For an individual award nominated teachers must have qualified teacher status. All full time, part time and peripatetic teachers and teaching assistants from every subject and activity area are eligible for nomination, including teaching and non-teaching heads.

  For the purpose of these Awards:

  Primary includes Foundation level / Early Years practitioners working with pupils in the 3-11 age range. This covers teachers in all schools teaching up to Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, including qualified teachers of nursery aged pupils in primary schools, teachers in maintained and independent nursery schools and teachers in independent schools with nursery provision. It also includes teachers in Middle Schools deemed Primary by LEAs.
  Secondary includes practitioners working in all types of educational establishments with pupils in the age range 11-18 yrs old. This covers teachers in all schools with pupils above the age of 11, and also includes teachers in Middle Schools deemed Secondary by LEAs.

  A nominee who has retired or will retire prior to March of the awards year cannot be nominated for an Award. The Teaching Awards cannot accept posthumous nominations or nominations for retired practitioners. A nominee cannot nominate themselves for an Award. Previous winners of Teaching Awards are not eligible for re-nomination.

  Please see the terms and conditions for further information

• Q

  How can I nominate in Scotland?

• AScottish schools participate in the Scottish Education Awards and selected winners are then included in the Teaching Awards at UK-wide level.

  Go to www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk for more information or telephone Jan Liddle at the Scottish Executive on 0131 244 0122.