by Peter Thomas
The Teaching and Learning Team from Churchill Community College, and their partners attended the final of the National Teacher Awards at the Guildhall, London.
The National Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers and teaching, founded in 1999 by Lord Puttnam, they recognize the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach. The Trust’s mission is to celebrate excellence in education. The initial judging took place in May 2014 where Churchill’s team were recognized for their exceptional contribution to the teaching profession as one of just 59 Silver Teaching Award winners in the UK.
On Sunday 26th October, the Silver Award winners, attended the Grand UK final held at London’s Guildhall, hosted by ‘History Guy’ Dan Snow. The glittering event was televised on BBC Two’s ‘Britain’s Classroom Heroes’, on Sunday 2nd November 2014 at 6.00pm.
The regional winners were there to find out which of them had been selected to win a National Pearson Teaching Award, also known as a Gold Plato Award’ considered as the “Oscars for teachers”. Awards were presented in just 11 categories and presenters included Prime Minister David Cameron, actor and comedian Catherine Tate, Olympian Louis Smith and The Apprentice’s Margaret Mountford. Every guest presenter contributed tales of their own inspirational teachers and informed the audience of their affiliations to particular educational foundations or schools.
Host Dan Snow said, “I’m delighted to be hosting this year’s Teaching Awards for Britain’s Classroom Heroes. They are an all-too-rare chance to celebrate some true heroes in our society. People who work on the frontline, day in, day out, to teach the next generation, giving them, and all of us, a better chance of a brighter future.” The war analogy is particularly fitting within the context of the hard work and dedication needed to be a teacher today. Dan Snow was a fine presenter who pitched the ceremony well. There was an acknowledgement of the hard work and the difficult circumstances many teachers face, combined with the impact excellent teaching can have on children and their communities.
Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, president of the Teaching Awards said, “I am genuinely proud and honoured to be the president of the Teaching Awards. I owe so much of what I’ve done to my fantastic teachers at school and university and it is exciting to join in celebrating what is probably the most important profession of them all.”
The Churchill team regretfully didn’t win The Gold Plato Award in his category, which saw Moat House School, Stockport being presented with the ‘Oscar’ for Outstanding School Team of the Year, but can be extremely proud to have been part of this prestigious Award Ceremony and his own personal achievement in having reached the UK finals. Our colleague Alan Strachan did win the Life Time Achievement Award. Alan has been at Churhill since 1979 in a variety of roles. He has transferred his inter personal skills into a community project to educate the community about the negative impacts of alcohol, and it has been a great success. There were a series of tributes from the community of Wallsend thanking Alan for his amazing contribution and devotion the the Wallsend through both his teaching, and his community work. He paid particular thanks to North Tyneside Council for the extensive support they have given him to make the project such a success.
The Guildhall was also a star of the evening. As an Historian being present on such an occasion, in such a venue, was a fantastic experience. The ceremony was in a grand hall, we then had a fabulous meal in the main hall, and drinks in the crypt. The organisation of the event gave us a full flavour of the building and provided a fitting backdrop to reward the teaching profession for their commitment, dedication and hard work!