SCHOOL WHERE PUPILS ‘REACH FOR THE STARS’ EARNS MAJOR AWARD
Staff praised for outstanding commitment to ‘making a difference’ to children’s lives
A PRIMARY school has received a top national teaching award for making a difference to the lives of its pupils.
St Mary’s Primary in Tunstall has been named as one of 80 Pearson National Teaching Award Silver Award winners across the country.
It has been honoured in the Award for Making a Difference – Primary School of the Year category for its outstanding commitment to changing the lives of its children.
The awards are an annual celebration of excellence in education, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the lifechanging impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people.
The judges were impressed with how every child, parent and member of staff at St Mary’s is encouraged to ‘reach for the stars.’
The school prides itself on giving all children in its care the best possible start to education through high expectations, educational experiences and an ambitious curriculum.
The school caters for the development of all children and staff and works hard to prepare children for their next steps in education.
Pupils also have access to a small animal therapy farm, library bus, secret garden, outdoor woodwork area, a large beach area, outdoor gym, gardening and allotment areas and an outdoor pond.
The school has earned praise from Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, below, for its ‘incredible achievement, and for the hard work and dedication which led up to it’.
He added: “Winning this award is impressive, well-deserved and shows St Mary’s CE Primary School’s commitment to helping students achieve their full potential.”
Author Michael Morpurgo, a former Children’s Laureate, is president of the Teaching Awards Trust.
He said: “No matter who we are, school has touched our lives and played a central role in our childhoods. School is about so much more than learning, and we see that now more than ever before. Schools really are the beating heart of our communities. Every person that cares for our children in schools should be celebrated loud and clear on Thank A Teacher Day 2022.”
As a result of winning the silver award, St Mary’s has been shortlisted to win one of just 16 gold awards this year. These once-in-alifetime achievements will be broadcast on the BBC’S The One Show as part of a weeklong celebration of teaching, which sees famous faces honour award winners every night in the run-up to the ceremony.