Congratulations! 2009 UK winners announced
Eleven inspirational individuals and one outstanding school won gold platos at the 2009 Teaching Awards UK ceremony this weekend.
The winners attended education's biggest annual celebration of excellence, held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday (October 25), broadcast on BBC2. The Teaching Awards UK ceremony was hosted by celebrity presenters Christine Bleakley and Jeremy Vine. Famous names congratulating the winners included actors Patrick Stewart OBE and Natascha McElhone, musician Jamie Cullum and model Jodie Kidd.
The 12 gold plato winners for 2009 were chosen out of 150 teachers, heads, teaching assistants, governors and sustainable schools who received silver platos at local ceremonies around Britain this summer. Everyone was rewarded with a prize weekend at the Tower Hotel and attended a glittering gala dinner after the UK ceremony.
The twelve winners of the UK Teaching Awards 2009 are:
Edward Vickerman, winner of the SSAT Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year, is head of business and teacher of business and enterprise, at The Freeston Business and Enterprise College, Normanton near Wakefield. Teaching Awards judges say he is at the ‘cutting edge of teaching’, a hugely talented and exciting role model, especially for those who share his dyslexia. His award was presented by the model Jodie Kidd who told the audience how she'd overcome dyslexia.
Elaine Loughran, winner of The Award for Special Needs Teacher of the Year, is special needs coordinator and member of school management team at St Joseph’s Primary School, Antrim, Northern Ireland. She is a kind, gentle but extremely tenacious primary class teacher whose special needs expertise and influence pervades every classroom. She is “exemplary” in her commitment to special needs education and the children in her care. Her award was presented by musician Jamie Cullum.
Liz Quinn, winner of The Royal Air Force Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School is head of The Stourport High School and VIth Form Centre, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire. From a family of headteachers, she is a hugely respected and popular secondary leader - nominated by a pupil - who has turned her school around and faced the challenge of it doubling in size under re-organisation. She inspires students and staff alike.Her award was presented by tv presenter Jennifer Falconer.
Dan Lea, winner of the Becta Award for Next Generation Learning, is an advanced skills teacher and arts coordinator at Gearies Infant School, London borough of Redbridge. Nominated by a proud parent, this enthusiastic male teacher, aged 33, achieves exciting things with the youngest pupils using ICT. But he wears his expertise lightly and is above all tremendous fun. The children adore him and can’t bear to miss a day of school. His Award was presented by the UK ceremony co-host and tv presenter from The One Show Christine Bleakley.
Patricia Gribble, winner of The TDA Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year is assistant director of sixth form at Stoke Damerel Community College, Plymouth, Devon. Described as a ‘guardian angel’ by students, her kindness and diligence makes her a hugely popular winner with staff and students. Her award was presented by Tom Chambers, soon to play an executive head in Waterloo Road.
Maxine Pittaway, winner of The DCSF Award for Enterprise, is headteacher of St Christopher’s School, WrexhamShe is an ingenious head of a special school whose enterprising spirit and flair builds a future for vulnerable young people and connects with the community. After 14 years as head she’s still “fizzing” with ideas and could, according to UK judges, easily be running any kind of business. Luckily, she chooses to run a school Her award was presented by actress Natascha McElhorn, who plays the lead role in the Truman Show.
Cardinal Wiseman Roman Catholic School and Language College in Coventry is winner of the DCSF Award for Sustainable Schools. A co-educational specialist language college with rural dimension status it is just four miles from Coventry city centre. There’s a mini-zoo of farm and domestic animals including alpacas and the school enjoys a national reputation for its farm and gardens. The award was presented by BBC Country File’s Matt Baker.
Steve Mills, winner of The BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School, is deputy head and advanced skills teacher at William Ransom Primary School, Hitchin, Herts. This male primary teacher, aged 40, nominated by a parent, gives each child an unforgettable year in his class, inspires everyone with his calm confidence and enjoys his work hugely. The only male teacher in the school, he wears several hats – including ICT expect, sports coach and staff governorHis award was presented by tv presenter Konnie Huq.
Spyros Elia, winner of The DCSF Award for Governors of the Year, is chair of governors at two London primary schools Brindishe Primary and Hither Green Primary in Lewisham, south London. He arrived here fom Cyprus as a child aged 8 and as an adult wanted to ‘give something back’. After 18 years as a governor at Brindishe, 10 as chair, he is a ‘rock’ to his executive head who only agreed to her extra workload if he joined her in turning the second school around. He is a retired teacher and works as a tutor for Teach First His award was presented by tv’s choirmaster Gareth Malone.
Angela Palin, winner of The National College Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School, is executive headteacher of St Mellion C of E primary school and of St Dominic C of E primary school in Saltash, Cornwall. Teaching Awards judges say she is an outstanding head and executive head of small, rural primary schools who gets the best out of every child with a rich and varied curriculum. She has great respect for what children think about their schooling, involves staff and parents closely.Her award was presented by the film director Danny Boyle, whose most recent success was Slumdog Millionaire.
Dan Walton, winner of the Award for the Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School is an advanced skills teacher of mathematics at St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Gravesend, Kent.An advanced skills teacher in maths, aged 34, Dan has awesome expertise in communicating his subject and a profound influence on students and fellow teachers. The number of students taking A level maths and further maths currently stands at over 40, with eight former students studying maths at university. His award was presented by Jake Humphrey, sports presenter and currently the anchor for Formula One.
Mike Vening, winner of The Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement, is retired executive head of Abbey Hill School & Technology College and of Westlands Special School in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland. He is a hugely influential leader and champion of special needs, whose 40 year career in teaching culminated in an executive headship and pioneering plans for vocational education.His award was presented by actor Patrick Stewart, best known for leading roles in Star Trek, X-Men and classical British theatre.
Caroline Evans, chief executive of the Teaching Awards said: ‘We are thrilled to bring the Class of 2009 together – that’s all 150 of them - and to take this golden opportunity to thank them in public because they deserve recognition. Many congratulations to our gold plato winners who are truly amazing ambassadors for education and represent all that is good in schools today.'
The Teaching Awards were established 11 years ago by Lord Puttnam who remains the founding chairman. Will Wyatt CBE is the current chairman. Celebrity patrons include Henry Winkler (aka ‘the Fonz’), Dame Kelly Holmes, John Snow and Kwame Kwei-Amah.
