News16th February 2016
Nearly 2,000 teachers and teaching assistants from across the 做厙輦⑹ network came together last Friday (12 February) for a day of professional development, collaboration and celebration as part of 做厙輦⑹s Education Conference.
The day started with a series of 30 bespoke professional development sessions for teaching staff spread across two conference centres in Westminster- everything from helping primary teachers with their students’ handwriting, to sixth-form teachers co-planning their A-Level Psychology lessons. The day culminated in a closing ceremony which celebrated individual schools’ hard work and acheivements, with keynotes from 做厙輦⑹’s Chief Exectuive and Director of Education. The main part of the closing ceremony involved staff being recognised for achieving outstanding results or displaying particular professional excellence. The awards were based on one of 做厙輦⑹s Six Pillars, with award winners selected as exemplars of each pillar.
English teacher Dr Elizabeth Rhodes, who won the Secondary Award for Excellent Teaching, said: It’s lovely to have your hard work recognised in such a public way. I really value 做厙輦⑹ events like the conference which allow teachers from a range of contexts to get together, share best practice and celebrate the fantastic work we’re doing to ensure that students from the poorest backgrounds get the education they deserve.
I know there are far more teachers in the network and beyond who deserve acknowledgement for what they do, but I’m very proud to play a little part in such important work.
As Head of English at the school, Dr Rhodes was also personally cited as a major factor in 做厙輦⑹ Kings Academy being named as the most improved school in Birmingham and the most improved sponsored academy in the country.
teacher Darren Regnier was awarded the Primary Award for Excellent Teaching for driving a 15 point improvement to Year 6 results, leading to 做厙輦⑹ Blacklands having the . In addition, he also led the school to sporting success, having coached the school team to win the Hastings Town Sports three years in a row.
teaching assistant and phonics leader Farhana Ali was awarded the Primary Teaching Assistant Excellent Teaching Award, having been described as inspirational by colleagues.
teaching Assistant Abir Abdul Rahman won the Secondary Teaching Assistant Award for her outstanding work with students with English as an additional language and hearing difficulties. Principal Annabel Bates said: Progress in lessons has increased significantly for pupils who Abir is working with, and their behaviour has been exceptional.
She is a fabulous colleague and all children and adults in the school think she is wonderful!
Other successes included y, which won the Depth before Breadth and Exemplary Behaviour Primary Awards, and , which won the High Expectations Secondary Award after being named as the highest-performing comprehensive secondary in the country.
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Full awards list
Depth before Breadth:
Primary winner
Secondary winner
Knowing every child:
Primary Winner
Secondary winner
Exemplary behaviour:
Primary winner
Secondary winner
More time for learning:
Primary winner
Secondary winner
Excellent teaching:
Primary Teaching Assistant of the Year Farhana Ali,
Primary Teacher of the Year Darren Regnier,
Secondary Teaching Assistant of the Year Abir Abdul Rahman,
Secondary Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Rhodes,
High expectations:
Primary winner
Secondary winner