Teaching Awards 2009 UK ceremony will be held on Sunday 25 October and broadcast on BBC Two at 6pm
Outstanding teachers, heads, teaching assistants and governors from across the country are preparing for the UK Teaching Awards 2009 ceremony.
On Sunday 25 October the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will stage the biggest celebration of excellence in education, represented by individuals from 150 schools nationwide.
Each of the silver plato winners - crowned at local ceremonies held earlier this year – is supported by pupils, colleagues, friends and families back at school. Each will discover if they have won the ultimate accolade – a gold plato that is education’s symbol of excellence.
The glittering event before 2000 guests will be hosted by celebrity presenters Christine Bleakley and Jeremy Vine, alongside the musician Jamie Cullum and actor Patrick Stewart OBE.
Famous names from film, theatre, music and sport will congratulate everyone including the 12 UK winners - exceptional teachers, heads, teaching assistants and governors who inspire children and young people to achieve their best. The UK’s ‘greenest’ school will also receive the DCSF Award for Sustainable Schools.
Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, new president of the Teaching Awards said: ‘I am thrilled to be taking on the role of President of the Teaching Awards and very proud to be part of the work that the Awards do to celebrate publicly the transformational work of our schools and our teachers. No profession is as important as teaching – because nothing matters as much as education.’
All 150 silver plato winners are treated to a prize weekend in London with a guest, staying two nights at the Tower Hotel next to the famous landmarks at Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. All are now Fellows of the Teaching Awards 2009.
Events over the weekend include a Saturday night drinks party, a fellows’ seminar, the Theatre Royal ceremony broadcast on BBC2, followed by a glittering gala dinner.
The Teaching Awards were founded by Lord Puttnam in 1998 and the UK ceremony is broadcast on the nation’s screens every year. The programme gives a real insight into school life – the fun and laughter as well as the hard work.
The Teaching Awards are supported by celebrity patrons including Henry Winkler (aka ‘the Fonz’), Dame Kelly Holmes, John Snow and Kwame Kwei-Amah.
