CELEBRATING SUCCESS
DURING THE 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
Awards Sponsored by
Welcome to the south wales Schools & Education awards 2023
Newsquest Wales is proud to announce the fifth annual
Schools & Education Awards
The awards – which will be promoted across our titles including the South Wales Argus, Barry & District News, Penarth Times and the Free Press Series – will celebrate those who have given there all in the past year.
It continues to be challenging for our education sector. While working flat out to help learners catch up from the impact of Covid lockdowns, we have been hit by a cost of living crisis.
This has not only hit those working in the sector directly but also adds an additional complexity for many of the children they work with, as simply providing for basic needs becomes harder for many families.
We know our schools, colleges and universities are filled with heroes who are committed to helping give people a better foundation for life. These awards will celebrate them and the organisations they work for.
I hope to see you all there on the night, and to read about you in print and online in the coming months.
Gavin Thompson Regional Editor Newsquest Wales
Why not take a look at
A previous awards video
Sponsorship available in 2023
Cathy Parsons
Head of Events
If you would like more information on the opportunities available, please contact myself on 07977 967777 / 01633 777126 or catherine.parsons@localiq.co.uk
Raise your profile by sponsoring our awards in 2023 – Take a look at our 2023 Sponsorship Media Pack
Award Categories & Sponsors
School of the Year
The winner of this award will be selected from the winner of Primary or Secondary School of the year and will be the overall winner on the evening.
Above and Beyond Award
This award will be awarded in recognition of a person or a group of people who have commitment to going that “extra mile”. When nominating for this award, please think about how this person or group has gone above and beyond, such as helping a child fit in or overcome challenges or tragedy, supporting their local community or their peers, and the difference them going the extra mile has made to others.
Private or Independent School of the Year
This will be awarded to the private or independent school which has, in the opinion of the judges, excelled in the past year over a range of factors such as academic achievement, attendance levels, parent engagement, providing a positive learning environment and helping children to flourish and raise their aspirations. When filling in your nomination please include relevant information such as key points from any recent Estyn reports for the school, improvements made and any other positive changes in the past year, how the school has adapted and thrived in the face of recent challenges, how children have been supported to feel safe and secure back in the learning environment, how the school works with parents and carers, how the school works in partnership with businesses and others to provide opportunities for children.
Teaching Assistant of the Year
An award for a teaching assistant, who always gives exceptional support and make a real difference to pupils’ learning through their work. When filling in your nomination, you might want to think about any examples where their extra help has made a real difference to a child, what progress pupils they work with, have made, any praise from Estyn or other bodies for their work, what the teachers they work with say about them, any extracurricular activities they support and how they make children feel about school and learning. Remember to include details of where they teach.
Class of the Year
This category is given to any primary or secondary school class who have gone above and beyond within the academic year of (2022) and have shown a commitment by going the extra mile. This could be in the form of a fund-raising project, green or environmental initiative or a cause close to the class or schools’ values
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is for a member of the school community who has shown a commitment to the sector over decades rather than just years. It could be for a leader, teacher, or member of support staff. When submitting your nomination, please explain why they should win the award, considering things such as examples of the difference they have made to you or others, details of their career and the roles they have had, including how long they have been in education, how parents/children or other staff feel about them.
Early Years Education Award
This award will go to an innovative and successful child-minding provider, nursery, pre-school or organisation which stands out from the rest for their early years support or provision. When nominating for this award, please consider how the provider has had an impact on the children in its care, for example, any standout projects or initiatives, how they work with parents/carers, the comments of inspectors, involvement in the wider community, how they make children feel and any other achievements.
College or University of the Year
This will be awarded to the college or university which has, in the opinion of the judges, excelled in the past year over a range of factors such as academic achievement, attendance levels, parent engagement, providing a positive learning environment and helping children to flourish and raise their aspirations. When filling in your nomination please include relevant information such as key points from any recent Estyn reports for the school, improvements made and any other positive changes in the past year, how the school has adapted and thrived in the face of recent challenges, how children have been supported to feel safe and secure back in the learning environment, how the school works with parents and carers, how the school works in partnership with businesses and others to provide opportunities for children.
Head Teacher of the Year
This award will go to an inspirational head teacher who has shown exceptional leadership, management, teaching skills and commitment to their school or college. When filling in your nomination, you might want to consider what changes they have made to the school, have they set out a clear vision and ethos, are they a role model and how, have standards improved under their leadership and how do they make pupils and staff and the school feel? Remember to include which school they work at and how long they have been there.
Primary Teacher of the Year
This award will recognise a teacher who inspires and engages students to fulfil their potential and makes an exceptional contribution to the life of their school. When filling in your nomination, you might want to consider how they inspire and engage with pupils, how imaginative they are in their teaching, any special projects they have set the class, what they have done to help their pupils to make progress, whether they have given support to children to overcome challenges or dealt with difficult situations, or just how they make their pupils feel about going to school.
Primary School of the year
This will be awarded to the primary school which has, in the opinion of the judges, excelled in the past year over a range of factors such as academic achievement, attendance levels, parent engagement, providing a positive learning environment and helping children to flourish. When filling in your nomination please include relevant information such as key points from any recent Estyn reports for the school, improvements made and any other positive changes in the past year, how the school has adapted and thrived in the face of recent challenges, how children have been supported to feel safe and secure back in the learning environment and how the schoolwork’s with parents and carers.
Secondary School of the year
This will be awarded to the secondary school which has, in the opinion of the judges, excelled in the past year over a range of factors such as academic achievement, attendance levels, parent engagement, providing a positive learning environment and helping children to flourish and raise their aspirations. When filling in your nomination please include relevant information such as key points from any recent Estyn reports for the school, improvements made and any other positive changes in the past year, how the school has adapted and thrived in the face of recent challenges, how children have been supported to feel safe and secure back in the learning environment, how the school works with parents and carers, how the school works in partnership with businesses and others to provide opportunities for children.
Support Worker of the Year
This award will go to a support worker who makes a big impact on the school, college, pupil referral unit or organisation they work in. Support workers can include but is not limited to admin staff, crossing patrols and school meal supervisors. When submitting your nomination, you might want to give examples where this person has made a different to you or others, tell us how long they have been doing the role, how they go above and beyond and what pupils and staff think about them and the work that they do. Please remember to include details of where they work and their job.
Secondary School Teacher of the Year
This award will recognise a teacher who inspires and engages students to fulfil their potential and who makes an exceptional contribution to the life of their school. When filling in your nomination, you might want to think about how this teacher inspires and engages pupils in their subject, whether children they teach have made progress over and above what had been expected, whether they have been praised by Estyn inspectors or others, any extracurricular activities they help with and how they have helped pupils to raise their aspirations and want to achieve more. Remember to include details of what they teach and where.
Gallery
View our gallery from previous awards.
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