It’s top marks for pupils and teachers
SCHOOL AWARDS SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON ACHIEVEMENTS
THE inspiring achievements of children and teachers were celebrated at the M.E.N’s Greater Manchester Schools Awards.
Pupils and staff were treated to an afternoon off lessons to enjoy the fifth annual awards ceremony at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate yesterday.
This year the judging team received a record number of entries for the ten award categories.
Headteacher of the Year was awarded to Linda Emmett of All Saints Catholic College in Tameside.
Mrs Emmett has led this once ‘broken’ school on an extraordinary journey of improvement since taking over in September 2015.
The school still has a way to go until it reaches its goal of excellence across the board, but Mrs Emmett and her team have already transformed this once struggling secondary into a place to be proud of.
Mrs Emmett, collecting her award, said: “This doesn’t just reflect me but our team of staff, parents and pupils who are working together to transform a school that was so broken.
“It was weak in all areas and a real mess initially. We have all had to dig deep and work together to transform the school into somewhere that is so happy. It’s a wonderful place to be.
“We have a new governing body but we also have staff who stuck it out and have seen all the changes through. And then we have our new staff who have come in with their sleeves rolled up to help out.
“Together we have helped transform what was a broken school into somewhere that is really special.”
Among the other extraordinary members of school staff recognised was Simon Hunt, of Tottington Primary School, of ‘The Floss’ dance fame.
Mr Hunt, whose video of himself learning The Floss with his class went viral, has become well known for his use of technology to help youngsters explore their creativity.
Mr Hunt and his pupils even treated guests to a flash performance of The Floss as they collected their award.
Barbara Brerton, of St John Fisher RC Primary in Denton, took home Student Teacher of the Year Award. A muchloved member of staff with ‘star potential,’ Barbara has progressed from a supporting role in the classroom to realising her ambition of becoming a teacher.
Cheadle Hulme High School scooped the Secondary School of the Year following another outstanding academic run.
Their headteacher of 15 years, Linda Magrath, said: “I am absolutely over the moon. This is a brilliant accolade for the school to have won. It’s the hard work of all the staff and the students.