Mr Dennis Richards
Teaching Awards 2007 Winner
The Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement, sponsored by the Innovation Unit
St Aidans CE High School, HARROGATE
Dennis Richards has the gift for making headship seem simple – probably because his vision is so clear.
His very personal, robust and impassioned style has ensured that at St Aidan’s young people undergo the most profound life-changing experiences that set them up for life. He has established a challenging educational community where high standards, breadth and balance are the order of the day while ensuring personally that the school remains genuinely inclusive.
Born to teach, Dennis has developed a particular rapport with some of his most challenging students and his own deep faith and compassion as a Christian has led him to offer personal support to some of the most vulnerable and needy, sending them handwritten letters of encouragement, even accompanying them on school trips. Dennis is always enthusing about his students’ latest accomplishments. St Aidan’s has specialist science status but excels also in music and the arts. His choirs and orchestras perform all over Europe and he will always “pop in”, to see how they are getting on - wherever they are.
Despite leading a school of 1,850 students he insists on a sizeable teaching timetable and has never lost the ability to motivate youngsters. His lessons are marked by open and witty exchange as Dennis delights always in what teenagers have to say; his faith in their ability to excel unfailing.
And indeed they do excel. St Aidan’s is the highest achieving non-selective comprehensive school in the country, 16th in national league tables with a 95 per cent GCSE pass rate. Its 920-strong sixth form, a unique ecumenical association with the neighbouring Catholic high school, achieved 61 per cent ‘A’-level A-B grades last year.
Ever the thinker, he keeps abreast of educational research and philosophy. A consummate communicator and writer he has contributed hugely to national debate through regular articles in the Times Educational Supplement and membership of the QCA advisory committee.
Ted Wragg taught Dennis at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield in the 1950s and continued to be an influence and a mentor. Dennis, who is lauded by all - his students, colleagues, parents, the great and the good - as the most loyal, committed, creative and effective educationalist of his generation, is most deserving of this award.
