The outstanding work of Catholic schools has been celebrated by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at the 2009 Teaching Awards.
The 2009 Teaching Awards ceremony, which celebrated exceptional teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants and school governors, was hosted by Christine Bleakley and Jeremy Vine and watched by a record number of viewers on BBC2. The award winners were then invited to a reception in Downing Street to be congratulated by the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP and the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP.
Cardinal Wiseman Roman Catholic School and Language College in Coventry won the 2009 DCSF Award for Sustainable Schools. The school has attracted much praise for its commitment to education and the environment, hosting a mini-zoo, farm and renowned gardens on site. Cardinal Wiseman School provides a new GCSE in land and the environment for students in the region, and will be the pioneer for new environment-based studies such as diplomas. Significant savings have been made by encouraging students to be aware of their energy usage. The school is also partnered with a school in a Malawi and an orphanage in India.
Another prestigious award went to Dan Walton, who teaches Maths at St. John's Catholic Comprehensive School in Gravesend, winner of the Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School award. The Teaching Awards judges said, “We have rarely, if ever, seen or heard of a teacher of Dan’s quality. He is at the forefront of innovation; his methods are transforming the pedagogy and practice of his colleagues”. They reported that Dan’s inventive teaching style and recognition of the potential of every child encourages students from all abilities to aim high and achieve impressive results.
Oona Stannard, Chief Executive and Director of the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales (CESEW) congratulated Cardinal Wiseman and Dan Walton on their achievements, “Cardinal Wiseman’s 2009 Award for Sustainable Schools has highlighted the exemplary way that Catholic schools can put their ethos into practice by encouraging and enthusing young people to responsibly care for a world in which we all share. The Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School award for Dan has shown the vital difference good teachers can make to the lives of young people.
The strength of Catholic schools has been clearly shown not only through these two examples, but also through the high proportion of Catholic schools and teachers acclaimed as regional Teaching Awards winners. CESEW extends its congratulations and thanks to all staff for their commitment to the teaching profession and for making Catholic schools so successful; academically, pastorally and socially.”
