Top Midland school and head-teacher scoop awards
Oct 26 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Post
An outstanding head-teacher and an environmentally-conscious school have emerged as the stars of the West Midlands after taking top honours in the 2009 UK Teaching Awards.
Liz Quinn, head of The Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, and Cardinal Wiseman RC School, in Coventry, were among 12 winners unveiled on BBC2 television yesterday during the annual awards ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London.
Miss Quinn, who forms a family trio of head-teachers with husband Stephen Jowett, in charge of Chantry High School in Worcester, and sister Christine Quinn, head of Ninestiles in Acocks Green, Birmingham, won the Royal Air Force Award for Head-teacher of the Year in a Secondary School.
And Cardinal Wiseman, which last year was honoured with a visit from Prince Charles, collected the Department of Children, Schools and Families Award for Sustainable Schools.
They each received a gold award before a 2,000-strong theatre audience. A further 150 received silver awards in ceremonies around Britain this summer.
Last night’s Teaching Awards UK ceremony was hosted by television presenters Christine Bleakley and Jeremy Vine, with famous names including actor Patrick Stewart, musician Jamie Cullum and model Jodie Kidd presenting some of the prizes.
Liz Quinn, who was nominated for her award by an 11-year-old pupil, took charge in 2000 but, two years ago, had to preside over an additional 750 pupils following a reorganisation of middle schools in the area. Cardinal Wiseman RC School is recognised as a haven for horticulture with a national reputation for its farm and gardens.
It has a mini-zoo, with a range of animals from ducks to alpacas and chinchillas. The Prince was given a scarf made from alpaca wool, cultivated on its farm, during his visit.
The 1,450-pupil school also markets fair trade products including Cardinal Tea and home-made sausages, which were voted West Midlands Banger of the Year.
It runs a BTec First Diploma in Animal Care and plans to build a regional environmental education centre as part of its Building Schools for the Future programme. Awareness of waste and energy reduction cut the electricity bill by £15,000 in one year.
Governor Patricia Garner, who nominated the school, said: “Our pupils feel very strongly that they will inherit the world we leave them and they want a future that is sustainable and ethical.”
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “Teachers are at the heart of their schools and communities and are central in ensuring that young people achieve their potential.
“The UK Teaching Awards ceremony is a fantastic celebration recognising not only inspirational teachers but head-teachers, teaching assistants, governors and schools themselves.”
The Teaching Awards were established 11 years ago by film producer Lord Puttnam, who remains the founding chairman. Celebrity patrons include Henry Winkler (‘the Fonz’), Dame Kelly Holmes, John Snow and Kwame Kwei-Amah.
People can nominate their favourite teacher for 2010 at www.teachingawards.com
