Time to honour our best schools

Nov 29 2007 by Graeme Whitfield, The Journal

THE Journal is today launching the second annual North-East Schools Awards.

After the success of last year’s awards, we have again teamed up with sponsors Northumbrian Water and our sister paper on Teesside, the Evening Gazette, to stage a celebration of the hard work and unsung heroes making a real difference to our children’s education.

From inspirational teachers and dedicated school staff to the hard-working pupils themselves, there are hundreds of people who work to make the North-East’s schools some of the best in the country.

And we want to see their work rewarded with awards that are the envy of the region.

Last year, schools from around the North-East submitted entries to the awards, with 30 making the finals and sharing nearly £10,000 in prize money.

Hurworth School, near Darlington, was named the region’s School of the Year and headteacher Dean Judson said the award has been a huge thrill to staff and students alike.

He said: “It’s been fantastic, a really good experience for us.

“For the staff and the students to be able to say they go to the best school in the North-East, it’s been a huge feather in our cap and it’s a recognition for all the hard work that they’ve done.”

Prizes are on offer for schools doing projects in five categories: the Sustainable School Award, the Healthy Living Award, the School Newspaper Award, the Environment Award and the Active Community Award.

The winners of each category will receive a £1,000 bursary towards the winning project, while there will be two prizes of £250 for runners-up in each section.

There will also be gongs for the most inspirational teacher in a primary school, the best teacher in a secondary school, caretaker of the year, school support staff of the year and headteacher of the year.

Each winner will get £250 for their school with two runners-up getting £100.

Northumbrian Water’s PR manager Alistair Baker said: “Schools are at the heart of our communities and as title sponsor of these awards we are able to celebrate achievements and outstanding contributions that individuals have made to our children’s lives and projects that have enhanced the curriculum.”

The competition is open to all schools, their staff and pupils within Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the Tees Valley.

Project award entries can be made by submitting a scrapbook, a DVD, video, CD ROM, project book or models along with the entry form.

For individual awards, up to two additional sides of A4 may be attached to support the entry.

Entry forms are being sent to schools this week, but parents can find additional forms on www.journallive.co.uk/schoolsawards or www.gazettelive.co.uk/schoolsawards. Forms can also be obtained by telephoning Claire Evans on (0191) 201-6089. The closing date is March 14.

The shortlist for each category will be announced in The Journal and the Evening Gazette next April.