Summer Tour Begins
Finalists announced for 2009
Exceptional headteachers, outstanding new teachers and those with a lifetime’s experience will be among more than 400 education stars expected to shine this summer as finalists at the 2009 Teaching Awards.
Cheers and applause will greet the names of 417 finalists at 13 prestigious ceremonies held across the UK over a three week period, from June 2 at Canterbury Cathedral until June 23 at Central Hall, Westminster. Each event will be hosted by a BBC TV news presenter.
A significant educationist associated with the Awards will lead workshops before each ceremony, including Baroness (Shirley) Williams, chair of the UK judging panel, and Sir Alan Steer, Teaching Award winner and the Government’s behaviour expert. Presenters will include actress Gwyneth Powell who played Mrs McClusky in Grange Hill, comedian Arthur Smith and garden designer Diamuid Gavin.
There will be 146 winners in 12 categories for headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants, governors and sustainable schools. Each will go forward to the UK finals held in London in October and televised on BBC2.
For the first time a category of winners will be revealed with special expertise in applying all the new technologies to learning, such as social networking tools and mobile phones. These innovative teachers will receive their platos - sometimes known as ‘oscars for teachers’ - for the Becta Award for Next Generation Learning.
The Teaching Awards were founded by Lord Puttnam CBE in 1998. Following the tenth anniversary celebrations in 2008, Will Wyatt CBE, former deputy director general of the BBC became the new chairman of the Teaching Awards Trust and Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson accepted the role of president.
Congratulating the shortlisted finalists, Caroline Evans, chief executive of the Teaching Awards said: ‘The Teaching Awards ceremony is an opportunity to witness the skill, devotion, passion and professionalism that teachers bring to their work. The influence of these outstanding individuals on the lives of children and their families cannot be underestimated. Society needs to recognise their impact and thank them wholeheartedly for the important contribution that they make.’
Steve Munby, Chief Executive, National College for School Leadership, said: ‘As sponsors of the Teaching Awards’ Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School category, NCSL recognises the significant achievement of these finalists.
Every year the Teaching Awards show us the inspiring work being done by school leaders all over the country. It’s a challenging job and these award-winners show us how rewarding it can be and give a shining example to the next generation of school leaders.’
