School’s golden day in the TV spotlight
ASCHOOL in West Lancashire starred on TV on Saturday after being recognised as the best in Britain.
Delph Side School, in Skelmersdale, won Best Primary School of the Year at the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards.
Known as the Oscars of the teaching profession, the ceremony was filmed at the Roundhouse in Camden and aired on the BBC2 programme Britain’s Classroom Heroes.
Footage of the school receiving the award was also featured on BBC’S North West tonight.
It showed the team with head teacher Liz Ormerod, giving a speech stressing that the win was because of a wonderful team, support from the community and its partners and the children – the little Delphsiders.
Mrs Ormerod said: “We were so nervous, it’s big stuff for us from Skelmersdale. We had no expectations of winning and we were very humbled when we did. It’s such a prestigious award and we are absolutely elated and proud.
“We were like stars backstage with all the interview and photos. I even got called a superstar by my postman back home when I answered the door!”
Mrs Ormerod nominated the school in secret so it was a surprise to the rest of the team when they won.
She said: “I’m head teacher so I have done a lot of the talking in the interviews but I want to stress it’s a real team effort. Delph Side has an extraordinary, hard working and ambitious team and I really wanted that to be recognised on a national level.”
The days following the ceremony, the team took the golden “thinking man” award, which they nicknamed Goldie, out on a visit to see the sights around London.
It was pictured at landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and the London Eye.
Mrs Ormerod said: “We did that because we wanted to include the kids in the celebrations.
“Although they know it’s a good thing we’ve won, a glitzy awards ceremony won’t mean much to them so we wanted them to understand how huge this is and have them part of the experience, so we just made it fun.”
Delph Side’s results have improved rapidly in the past three years. The school received the award for having challenges and tackling them creatively and constructively in what is seen as one the most deprived areas in the country.
Mrs Ormerod said: “I feel like it’s a real win for Skelmersdale too. It’s sometimes known as the forgotten town and some businesses have left but we want to encourage people not to abandon it.
“It’s got great schools, volunteer groups and some really brilliant people that aren’t always recognised. So to get that on a national level is just amazing and we’re really proud of Skem and community.”
The children were on half term when the school won, so the celebrations are not over yet,
Mrs Ormerod said: “As soon as we won we just wanted to get back and its celebrate with the children the rest of the team back home!
“We haven’t decided where to put Goldie yet but it’ll be next to our silver award.
“Somewhere everyone can see!” where