Whitefield Primary School honoured in teaching awards

Whitefield Primary School has been honoured with a Silver Award in ‘The Award for Making a Difference – Primary School of the Year’ for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.

Whitefield Primary School strives to provide an outstanding pastoral offer to help their pupils make the right choices in every aspect of their lives. Children thrive enabling Whitefield to succeed as one of the highest performing schools in Liverpool over several years, despite operating in one of the most economically deprived areas in the country. Attendance is in the top 10% nationally, and has been for five years, while the school has recently been ranked 10th in the country in the Real Schools guide.

Whitefield Primary School is now in the running for one of just 14 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme which will be broadcast on the BBC.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with.

This year marks its 22^nd year of celebrating, award-winning teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers and lecturers across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Jill Wright, headteacher of Whitefield Primary School, said: “This has been such a difficult time for families everywhere and we have been thrilled to welcome our children back to school. Having been nominated for Primary School of the Year, back in June in the middle of our lockdown we asked our school community to share their experiences of Whitefield to the judges as part of our assessment- we can’t quite believe that now we are Silver winners.

“This is so special to our children, families, staff and community who have pulled together as the Whitefield family so much this year. We have been so excited to share the award today with that school family and to celebrate together, even though we can’t gather all together. We are so proud to represent Liverpool and our amazing profession and go forward as a potential Gold winner.”

Rod Bristow, President of Pearson UK, said: “Congratulations to all of our Silver Award winners for their commitment, dedication and passion for their work. Despite the incredible challenges they have faced over the past few months, school staff have risen to the occasion time and again.

“It is so important to recognise and celebrate teachers, teaching assistants and lecturers for the impact they have on our young people every year, and that is why Pearson is delighted to support these Awards.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “My warmest congratulations go to all this year’s silver award winners. They should be proud to receive this recognition of their commitment to the profession, and the outstanding education and guidance they provide for their students.

“Teachers and school staff up and down the country consistently go above and beyond for their students, and this is especially true over the past few months. It is down to their hard work that schools have been able to open their gates to all pupils again for the start of the new term, and I cannot say thank you enough for everything they have done.”