After a year of online learning, social distancing and disrupted schedules, it was time to charge the glasses, relax and have fun to celebrate the best the education sector has to offer at the Northamptonshire Education Awards.
“All of you in the education sector went out of your way to keep our children’s education going in unprecedented circumstances, and the business community rallied to offer what support it could.
“Tonight is about you, so relax, celebrate and enjoy marking the successes of the past year. And, above all, keep being brilliant.”
Matthew Burton, Host.
Hosted by Matthew Burton, from the Channel 4 series Educating Yorkshire, the awards event saw guests enjoy a three-course meal before the presentations of the awards began.
Northampton Academy had the most reasons to celebrate – taking four awards, including Chris Clyne being named Headteacher of the Year, Kyle Dunkley was Maths Teacher of the Year, Secondary School of the Year and STEM Team of the Year.
Speaking after receiving the Headteacher of the Year Award, sponsored by Starting Off, Chris Clyne said:
“This is about the school. It’s an amazing body of staff, I get to guide them but it is them that have really won this award.”
Ian Wilson was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by All Things Business, and said afterwards:
“It wasn’t expected because I feel I just do my job, so I’m quite amazed, to be honest. And I’m not very good at taking praise, I’d rather be praising the students I teach. I just want to thank all the people I’ve come across in my career, it’s such a privilege to know young people and see what they are doing.”
Hospital and Outreach Education AP Academy, which works with young people with health issues that keep them out of mainstream school, took the SEND Team of School of the Year award, sponsored by TrackNN, and were also named the evening’s Overall School of the Year, sponsored by The Qube.
Hospital and Outreach Education AP Academy accepting their award
James Shrayne, Headteacher at Hospital and Outreach Education AP Academy, said:
“This award feels so good after a tough time recently with COVID and everything we have been through with remote learning and so on, but it is lovely to be recognised, and for all the staff to be recognised. It’s a fantastic team, working in different locations, doing an amazing job every day to work with these young people and really spark their love of education after a difficult period in their lives.”
