Literacy news
Teaching awards honour innovative approaches
1 Nov 2010
Emma Thompson and Michael Gove paid tribute to teachers at a ceremony in London last night.
Among those honoured in the UK teaching awards on Sunday evening (31 October 2010) included a semi-professional dancer who recreates scenes from Avatar in her classroom, a former switchboard operator who took maths GCSE alongside her pupils and a veteran teacher loved by the "swots, the naughty kids, everyone".
Primary schools topped the tables this year, taking five awards, including outstanding new teacher of the year, teacher of the year and headteacher of the year. The secondary sector got four gongs and special schools three.
Kelly Steeples, a Year 6 teacher at Southdale junior school in Ossett, near Wakefield, was named outstanding new teacher for her "charismatic and unique style of teaching".
Famous faces including Emma Thompson, the president of the Teaching Awards, the patron, Henry Winkler – aka the Fonz – and the education secretary, Michael Gove, were at the London event hosted by Lenny Henry.
Emma Thompson said:
"Without great teachers we are not going to have a great society.
"They are lifesavers, quite literally. Some kids have lives that are so challenging and difficult that one great teacher is the only link to a space that's safe, where they can be safe to think their own thoughts and work things out."
Lady Williams, the chair of the judging panel, said:
"I have learned to respect teachers more than ever for their dedication, commitment and sheer generosity of spirit, sharing praise for their achievements with others in the team."
Read more at the Guardian.
