Breakfast broadcasting legend Eamonn Holmes led the celebrations long into the evening as the education sector met up to recognise the very best in their sector at this year’s Northamptonshire Education Awards.
Teachers, support staff, administrators, sponsors and guests gathered at the County Ground, home of Northamptonshire Cricket Club, to find out who had triumphed in the 12 categories, including Overall School of the Year which is awarded to the school the judges felt really stood out from the rest.
It was a difficult call, with a host of inspiring stories throughout the categories, but Wootton Park School; the winner of Secondary School of the Year and saw Fran Hedges named School Business Manager of the Year, was chosen as the Overall School of the Year.
Wootton Park School was also lucky enough to be drawn out of the hat as the winner of a complimentary outreach visit from The Chester House Estate, a hands-on learning experience in Irchester that gives learners an up-close experience, through artefacts and learning resources, of thousands of years of history.
Senior Vice Principal at Wootton Park School, Jane Page, said:
“We have been very lucky tonight, and are delighted to have won two awards, but I think it is this Outreach Prize that means the most because this is the one that the children are going to benefit from the most, and it’s all about the children. It’s going to be an amazing hands-on experience for them and everyone will get so much from it.”
There were also two awards for Parklands Primary School, which was named Primary School of the Year and also saw Carmilla Cassidy take the Headteacher of the Year Award. Purple Oaks Academy was named SEND School of the Year, while the Nursery of the Year Award went to Woodleys Farm Day Nursery.
Sarah Price from Blisworth Community Primary School was the winner of the Maths Team or Teacher of the Year Award, while Emma Ironmonger from Thomas Becket Catholic School took the English Team or Teacher award.
Accepting her award, Emma Ironmonger said:
“Reflecting on why I’m here and why I’m on this stage, I’m here because of my grandparents, who told me it’s OK to be stubborn. My parents who told me that love is love and kindness is not a weakness. Because of the leaders that inspired me, because of my colleagues who show up every day to motivate and encourage. I’m here because of that child no one else wants to teach, and to deliver a quality education to the children we serve, because every child matters, every single day.”
Fran Hedges from Northampton Free School Trust was chosen as School Business Manager of the Year; Northampton Academy was the winner of the STEM Award; and the Eco Schools Team from Wellingborough School were presented with the Environmental and Sustainability Award.
The last award of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to John Ditchburn from Guilsborough Academy. John has devoted 40 years to the support and guidance of young people getting ready to make the major transition from school to the world of higher education or work. The school calculated that John had helped some 10,000 students over 34,000 lessons, not to mention the support he’s provided to colleagues and parents.
As he received his award, John said:
“I have been very fortunate to be in a great place, with wonderful opportunities. It’s the people we work with who inspire us to be the best, so I’m very grateful to all the staff and students at Guilsborough Academy.”
At the end of the ceremony, there was the presentation of the Contribution to Northamptonshire Award, which went to the outgoing CEO of The Bedford College Group, Ian Pryce CBE.
Ian said: “This has already been a great week as we’ve seen the opening of the new Corby Sixth Form. All I do it take the credit for what is really all about 1,800 brilliant staff and 18,000 brilliant students. It’s now time for someone else to step in and take this college to a new level.”
To find out more about the Northamptonshire Education Awards, click here.
The full list of winners
Nursery of the Year – Sponsored by NNBN
Woodleys Farm Day Nursery
Maths Team or Teacher of the Year – Sponsored by J Sweeney Accountants
Sarah Price – Blisworth Community Primary School
English Team or Teacher of the Year – Sponsored by DFA Law
Emma Ironmonger – Thomas Becket Catholic School
Environmental and Sustainability Award – Sponsored by Apertus Group
Eco Schools Team – Wellingborough School
STEM Award – Sponsored by The University of Northampton
Northampton Academy
School Business Manager of the Year Award – Sponsored by Tick Education
Fran Hedges – Northampton Free School Trust
SEND School of the Year – Sponsored by Simply Education
Purple Oaks Academy
Headteacher of the Year Award – Sponsored by Track
Carmilla Cassidy – Parklands Primary School
Primary School of the Year – Sponsored by Sign In App
Parklands Primary School
Secondary School of the Year Award – Sponsored by The Learning and Skills Academy CIC
Wootton Park School
Overall School of the Year – Sponsored by The Qube
Wootton Park School
Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by All Things Business
John Ditchburn – Guilsborough Academy
Contribution to Northamptonshire Award
Ian Pryce, CBE
