LIVERPOOL’S inspiring teachers, support stars and stand out schools were awarded at the prestigious Educate Awards ceremony on Friday (18 November).
Over 500 guests gathered for the Educate Awards at a glittering ceremony held at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, hosted by actor and comedian Neil Fitzmaurice.
The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is now in its fifth year and is the biggest celebration of education in the North West.
On the night, 21 awards were handed out to schools in Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire. A great variety of projects and skills were represented, from entrepreneurial awareness, dazzling stage performances, creative literacy initiatives to inspiring community partnerships.
Springwood Heath Primary School won the Community Partnership Award for its moving project with residential home Kingswood Manor. Pupils visit the home every Friday to meet residents. Springwood Heath also picked up the SEND Provision Award on the night, in recognition of its range of initiatives to help all pupils’ progress and succeed.
St Francis Xavier’s College won the Eco School Project of the Year Award thanks to its green-fingered pupils and staff, who undertook a planting project at their new school site. Meanwhile, Archbishop Blanch School won The Communication Award for harnessing the full potential of technology.
New Park Primary School took home the Spirit of Enterprise Award for its enterprising ‘Aspirations and Enterprise Week’ which involved all year groups.
The STEM Project of the Year Award was awarded to Gateacre School for its innovative ‘Nursery Crimes’ project which pondered questions such as ‘Imagine if Humpty Dumpty had a lightweight parachute that would project him when he fell off the wall?’
Enterprise South Liverpool Academy won the Career Aspiration Award for its ‘Dare to Dream’ careers programme which sets aspirational targets for its pupils, and is already producing great results. Whitefield Primary School won the Innovation in Education Award for its range of innovative and therapeutic interventions for pupils such as Lego Therapy.
A new award for 2016, the School Support Star of the Year was awarded to Gateacre School’s Lisa Mitchell. As the school’s community coordinator, Lisa is at the very heart of the school’s community activity and is a key figure for not only staff and pupils, but local residents too.
The final award of the evening, the WOW Recognition Award, was handed to Alsop High School for its inspirational initiative ‘Hope 2016’ which set about to breakdown stereotypes and create a more harmonious society.
Guests were treated to special performances by talented North West pupils, including BBC Young Musician finalist Andrew Woolcock, Formby High School’s Mundo Afrika Choir and Winstanley College’s three students, Jacob Maguire, Hannah Hill and Sarah Prescot.
Over 250 choristers and a 50 pupil orchestra from nine schools across Merseyside also brought their musical talents together to perform as the Educate Awards Super Choir. Led by choirmaster Matthew O’Keeffe from The Belvedere Academy, performing schools included The Belvedere Academy, Bickerstaffe CE Primary School, Rainford CE Primary School, St Hilda’s CE High School, Liverpool College, Netherton Moss Primary School, Archbishop Blanch School, Whitefield Primary School and Academy of St Francis of Assisi.
Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, says: “The number of entries we had received is testament to the excellence and hard work seen in our schools and colleges across the North West. We are proud to host this event which champions the creativity, diversity and dedication of schools in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire.
