National Teaching Awards Win
We’re delighted to share that at the Pearson National Teaching Awards Ceremony last weekend two teachers from our church schools in Gamston and Sneinton received awards. Gethin Edwards from Pierrepont Gamston Primary School received the Teacher of the Year in a Primary School Silver Award, and Rachel Walker from Sneinton St Stephen’s CofE Primary School won the Digital Innovator of the Year Silver Award.
The National Teaching Awards, organised by The Teaching Awards Trust, aim to recognise the incredible impact of educators in early years settings across the UK. This year’s ceremony took place in London on 30th November 2024.
“Gethin epitomises dedication, community spirit and hard work in all that he does at Pierrepont Gamston Primary School. An outstanding Key Stage 2 teacher, he has an innate ability to engage every pupil in his class, going above and beyond to support their growth and learning and ensure that they have an exceptional educational experience. He is equally devoted to the school’s football teams, spending countless hours coaching both girls’ and boys’ teams and instilling in them not just skills but values such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Gethin’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered is truly commendable. He is a highly valued and popular member of the team and a beacon of positivity and enthusiasm in both the school and the wider community. Gethin has also been successful at being appointed to the post of Assistant Head Teacher and will be starting at Bluecoat Primary in January.”
“Rachel is digital lead and a specialist PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) teacher at Sneinton St Stephen’s Primary School, putting her phenomenal skills to use in many areas of education. She sees the integration of technology into classrooms as a way of solving problems and overcoming challenges, including meeting the needs of all learners, creating effective feedback and supporting teachers’ wellbeing. Rachel has had a remarkable influence on teaching across Transform Trust, supporting teachers beyond her own school. She constantly shines with her commitment to excellence, inspiring others in the development of e.g. ‘putting pedagogy in the driving seat of digitial technology in education’ in their own classroom. Having initiated and driven a 1:1 device policy in her own school, her support and guidance have enabled a similar approach in many other schools, empowering teachers and having a real impact on the lives of thousands of children in disadvantaged areas.”
We celebrate Gethin and Rachel for their outstanding work with young people in our schools and pray for continued inspiration and commitment for all those involved in education across our diocese.