School is named the best of the year at awards
Hinckley Parks bagged top prize at education awards
THE head of a vastly improved school in Hinckley has passed on his thanks after it was named School of the Year.
David Harding is head teacher at Hinckley Parks Primary School, which bagged the top prize at the LeicestershireLive Education Awards, at the King Power stadium.
He took over at the Leicester Road school in April 2018 after it had received a warning notice by Leicestershire County Council for poor key stage one performance.
Mr Harding said: “We were a bit surprised but delighted as well. We have all worked so hard, the school has improved so much in such a short space of time.
“People time into have put so much making the school better.”
He said the school’s achievements and standards have greatly improved in the last 18 months, winning accolades for its PE provision and retaining its staff.
The top teacher credited getting the community back on side and the encouragement of parents as being key to the school’s success.
Mr Harding said: “I came here in April 2018 to a school which was really struggling. Everything I have done, the parents have supported 100 per cent.
“It’s a huge part of what we have achieved - thank you to everybody.”
Hinckley Parks was attended by Isla Tansey, who started the global online #islastones campaign before her death in July 2018 at the age of seven.
The school held a unicorn themed day of activities to support her battle with a spinal tumour as well as a birthday party to mark what would have been her eighth birthday.
It changed its name from Holliers Walk in 2016 and moved to the Mount Grace site on Leicester Road.
As part of the move, the Victorian building on Leicester Road underwent a £4 million refurbishment and was furnished with a new library, classrooms and administration officers.
It was also kitted out with a green energy centre to reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions.