Celebrating the outstanding contributions of those who are making a difference to the education sector in the West Midlands; this July the Education Awards returns for its third year, with Birmingham City University as headline sponsors.
The judges had a tough task whittling down entries for the sixteen categories to create a list of finalists, with winners being announced and celebrated at the awards ceremony, which will take place in Birmingham on 5th July.
Both educators and educational supporters are being recognised within the categories, with those shortlisted including Pete Griffin, Professor Mark Hart and Baroness Morris of Yardley – Estelle Morris for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Highfield Day Nursery, Wiggles and Giggles and Tommies Childcare are all finalists in the Early Years School of the Year; with Infra Skills, Access Skills LTD and Heart of England Training being shortlisted for Proactive Educational Provider of an Apprenticeship Programme.
Other categories include: Educational Supporter of the Year; Headteacher / Principal Dean of the Year; Teacher / Lecturer of the Year; Transforming Lives Through Partnerships; Secondary School of the Year; Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community; Outstanding Support for Students; Primary School of the Year; Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics Awards (STEM); Educational Resource Provider of the Year; Entrepreneurial Educational Establishment of the Year; Further Education College of the Year and University of the Year.
Each category has an industry sponsor who will then go on to work with the winner on a project that will be filmed and showcased at the following year’s awards. Previous prizes have included anything from university education costs being covered, to a group of children being given the opportunity to manage and run their own business in Touchwood Shopping Centre.
The ethos of the awards is to connect industry with education, not just by supporting projects for pupils and their educational establishments from primary level to university, but to provide opportunities for on the job learning as well as apprenticeships.
Sarah Mullin, FCCT Deputy Head Teacher of Senior School & Sixth Form Priory School has been shortlisted in both the Headteacher / Principal Dean of the Year and Teacher / Lecturer of the Year categories: “It is truly an honour to have been shortlisted as a finalist in not just one, but two categories at the 2019 Education Awards. I am delighted that I have been recognised as an educationalist who inspires and supports educational professionals to fulfil their potential.
“Women are vastly underrepresented in educational leadership and the impact I have had proves that an excellent leader will be successful irrespective of their age or gender. I am proud to be a positive role model to aspiring women leaders.”
Another double nominee is Midland Metro Alliance, who have been shortlisted in both the Educational Supporter of the Year and Transforming Lives Through Partnerships categories. They continue to make headway in the West Midlands by providing support for local schools and colleges, introducing young people to the construction sector and encouraging them to look at the industry differently, dispelling stereotypes along the way.
Rose Rees, Head of Engagement and Skills at Midland Metro Alliance commented: “It’s always special to be shortlisted for an award, but the Education Awards are extra special to us. We’re incredibly proud of the work we do within the education sector and believe these awards are hugely important to the region.”
Jas Rohel, CEO & Founder of the Education Awards says: “Education plays a vital role in supporting and growing the local community. We all know a teacher or someone in the education sector who has helped us on our journey and that’s what inspired me to set up these awards. They don’t often get thanked and I wanted to celebrate their achievements and the difference they can make in people’s lives.
“This is about ensuring a legacy for our children’s future, building foundations, ensuring longevity and sustaining opportunities to benefit individuals and for the wider economy.”
This year, the awards are partnered with the Pearson Teaching Awards for the first time. All winners will automatically be entered into the televised ceremony, which gets aired on BBC’s Classroom Heroes.
The Education Awards will take place on 5th July 2019 at the voco St John’s Hotel in Solihull. Presenter Phil Oldershaw will be entertaining guests as compere for the evening.
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