Education’s what you need
GET YOUR THINKING CAPS ON TO NOMINATE SCOTLAND’S LEARNING HEROES
As the 2018 Education Awards are launched, one winning headteacher from last year reveals what recognition meant to her whole school
CHRISTMAS may be within touching distance but schools are already looking forward to the big summer event of next year — the Scottish Education Awards.
The awards – launched earlier this week at Sanderson High School in East Kilbride by Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary John Swinney – reward teachers, support staff and parents for all the work they do in educating Scotland’s children.
Sanderson High were the 2017 winners of the Employability Across Learning Award (Secondary).
Yesterday, Aisling Boyle, headteacher at the 103-pupil additional support needs school, said they had been inundated with visitors from other schools eager to learn from their “good practice”.
She said: “We have visits from schools as far away as the Borders and we are happy to share any information we have to build capacity.”
She told of the excitement when the news of their win reached the school from the awards ceremony.
“They were all waiting patiently to find out whether we had won and when we phoned up to tell them everyone in the office started screaming,” said Boyle.
“It was quite near the end of the day when we got back but all the kids wanted to hold the trophy. And the pupils who we had taken along wanted to tell the others all about it and who they had met.
“They were telling everyone how they met a Robert the Bruce and Des Clarke and got their pictures taken with them.
“All the kids who were at the awards had taken part in a professional planning conference for staff and pupils on how we develop our workforce. They were aware of everything we did to win the trophy.”
And she encouraged other schools to take part in the 2018 awards.
She said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to allow your staff to recognise how good they are and allows kids to recognise that the experiences they are getting are phenomenal.
“I don’t think the staff knew that before we won this trophy. They didn’t realise they were amazing, they just thought they did what every school did. But I know from experience that’s not the case.”
Swinney told pupils: “What a lovely start to the day.
“I am here at Sanderson High to launch the Scottish Education Awards which is a joint venture between the Scottish Government
and the Daily Record newspaper. I have come here because last year Sanderson High did extremely well at the awards and I have travelled here to see what you have achieved.”
Swinney sampled the goods at the Fair Trade cafe within the school – one of the elements which won them the Employabilty Across Learning Award and joked: “I think people know that wherever John Swinney is, there should be cake.”
He added: “Across Scotland, teachers, parents, pupils and community partners are working hard to ensure all children and young people have equal chances to reach their full potential. The Scottish Education Awards give us all an opportunity to recognise, share and celebrate the fantastic work that is happening across Scottish education.” And Alan Armstrong, Education Scotland strategic director, added: “The Scottish Education Awards highlight innovative and effective practices in our early learning and childcare centres and schools that improve the experiences and attainment of all our children and young people. “The Awards are an ideal opportunity for everyone to recognise and nominate young people, practitioners, teachers and everyone who supports education for an award for their hard work.
“I would encourage all those involved in education to consider making nominations for the awards in June.”
The 2018 awards will be held in the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow city centre on June 6.
Nominations are now open for 15 categories, including the new Participation Award, inspired by the aims and outcomes of the Year of Young People. The new trophy will be given to the school which encourages pupils to make important decisions about their own education or the community at large.
Nominate at www. scottisheducationawards. co.uk. The closing date for entries is February 14.