Mrs Elizabeth Tarr
Teaching Awards 2007 Winner
The Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement, sponsored by the Innovation Unit in South West of England
Plymouth Thornbury Primary School, PLYMOUTH
Elisabeth has been at the cutting edge of educational thinking for 30 years and her school is a “must see” for anyone interested in the best of primary school education.
She was the founding head of Thornbury Primary School and has turned its open-plan layout into a wonderful environment for children, full of displays, art-work and interesting décor – not surprising for someone who has written a book on art in primary school.
But what struck the Teaching Awards judges most was its calm and caring atmosphere. “The all-pervasive trust and support which exists between every member of the school creates a community in which the open plan ethos works to the evident advantage of everyone,” they said.
Elisabeth has time for everyone and believes that “if you don’t look after people, nothing works.” In return, colleagues and pupils queue up to praise her. “No one comes anywhere close to her in terms of dedication, inspiration and innovation,” says one fellow head, while a school colleague says simply: “If I had to make a list of heroes, she’d be at the top.” As for pupils, they say: “Mrs Tarr makes us feel like family. She always listens to us, and sorts us out.”
Elisabeth has brought in careful tracking and monitoring systems, which ensure all pupils live up to their potential, and has introduced many ground-breaking teaching and learning strategies to her school. She is also always prepared to do something different. Her pupils enjoy projects based on particular stories, as well as Pirate and Tribal Days.
But her influence also spreads further afield. She has held numerous posts in educational and curricular associations, has helped found SCITT, an in-school training university, worked with the National College of School Leadership, and been awarded the MBE for her services to education.
Her energy is legendary, and now, when she should be retiring, she is busy joining school residential trips and planning research projects into special needs. Chris Woodhead, the former chief inspector of schools, once said, “I often thought back to Thornbury when talking about what was possible in primary education.” The Teaching Awards judges said she was “dedicated and inspirational.”
