Katy Gandon, Director of Communications, Tes
Six CST members have been celebrating as schools in their trusts secured coveted awards at the Tes Schools Awards.
- Headteacher of the Year (state): Delia Smith OBE, Ark Academy, Ark
- EYFS setting of the year: Lime Tree Primary, Bright Futures Educational Trust
- Secondary School of the Year: Totteridge Academy, United Learning
- Central Team Leader of the Year: Wellspring Academy Trust
- Primary Curriculum Leader of the Year: Summerhill Primary Academy, Rivers Church of England Academy Trust
- Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year: Thornbury Primary School, Connect Academy Trust
Dubbed the ‘Oscars of education’ the awards celebrate the extraordinary commitment, quality and innovation shown by schools, teachers and support staff across the UK.
Delia Smith OBE was amazed to be awarded Headteacher of the Year for her work founding and leading the Ark Academy.
She has served as a headteacher for almost 30 years of which 13 has been at Ark Academy. Julia Robinson, General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council, who judged the category explained why she was selected: "Delia stood out as someone of incredible talent and genuine values. She is an absolute heroine and an amazing woman.”
Chris Fairburn, Headteacher at Totteridge Academy which was awarded Secondary School of the Year and is part of United Learning school trust, said: "I’m so incredibly proud of this award and I’m collecting it on behalf of all the staff that do so much every day at Totteridge. The dedication of the team is outstanding, and it shows.” The school has come a long way since 2016 when only 39% of students achieved five good GCSE passes. It now has the highest progress score in the local authority and is in the top 50 nationally for overall progress.
At 29, Natalie Hardman was the youngest person to receive an award securing Central Team Leader of Year for her work at Wellspring Academy Trust. She has played a key role in Wellspring’s rapid growth by leading on 29 academy conversions and the creation of a new £6 million free school in Leeds. Natalie said: "I’m so proud and honoured to have won this award. It’s not just for me, it’s for the whole team at Wellspring – they all make such a difference.”
PE, sport and physical activity has a buzz about it at Summerhill Primary Academy, Rivers CoE Academy Trust, which is down to Sally Goodridge who was awarded the Primary Curriculum Leader of the Year for her work to rejuvenate the PE curriculum. When Sally started leading PE a staff survey showed teachers lacked confidence in teaching the subject. In response, she created a bespoke learning package for staff and used Sport Premium funding to bring expert sports coaches into school to co-teach and mentor teachers in PE. Judge Amanda Wilson said: "This is an excellent example of how the impact is so much greater when something is truly threaded throughout a school. The way Sally has engaged the whole school community in these activities and evidenced their impact so well, is really impressive.”
Thornbury Primary School, Connect Academy Trust, was awarded Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year. Wellbeing is threaded through the school and is the first consideration in all decision making. It guides all interactions the staff have with the children, from morning routines and how admin staff greet parents on the phone, to the training of pupil leaders and staff. Judge Tara Porter said: "This is a school where pupil mental health is central to the philosophy and is woven into everything they do and every possible interaction that occurs in and around the school. It’s extremely effective and admirable.”
Finally, Lime Tree Primary, Bright Futures Educational Trust, won the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Setting of the Year award for their holistic approach to achieving their aim of outstanding outcomes for children and their families. As well as a well-resourced and stimulating early years curriculum, they work closely with families to enable them to access help on a range of issues, including food bills, behaviour, mental and physical health, and financial difficulties. Judge Professor Eunice Lumsden said: "This school and their EYFS provision stood out due to the very strong interdisciplinary approaches taken, the fantastic partnerships with families and their understanding of the local community.”
For more information on the other award winners, click here.
Pictures courtesy of: Tes School Awards 2023.
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