Winners

Winner: Wentworth Nursery School and Children's Centre

Wentworth’s 2010 Ofsted report stated that “the hallmark of this outstanding school is the exemplary care it offers, not just to children, but also to their families” One parent says: Wentworth Nursery School was a special place for our son to go before he started Primary School. It was nurturing, engaging and a lot of fun. He has special needs and this was embraced in so many ways such as support for speech and language, creative activities and sensitivity to his medical needs. Wentworth Nursery is a very important community hub, it remains very close to our hearts”

Donna Davies, the Learning Support co-ordinator, said: “We are really happy to win the award. We try really hard to be inclusive for everyone. We work hard, we’ve got a great team and a great school and we are delighted that we won. The children will be very happy!”

Finalists:
Jubilee Primary School
Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form

Winner: ESOL Advice Service, Adult Learning, The Learning Trust

The ESOL Advice Service has strived since its launch in 2009 and services can now be accessed widely across the Borough providing easy access for all Hackney Residents. The development of a fantastic database has been crucial to the success of the service and provides a real picture of learner’s needs Through excellent links with various organisations, learners are now able to join courses as and when needed and the service has been proven to improve adults language and communication skills which impacts their own children’s development and growth.

Alice Robson, Joint manager of ESOL Advice Service, said: “We are very excited and we are happy on behalf of the ESOL team and the adult learning services that we have been recognised in this way.”

Finalists:
East London Advanced Technology Training (ELATT)
Sebright Primary School and Children's Centre

Winner: Kingsmead Primary School

The Kingsmead 2011 Ofsted Report said “The Rich stimulating curriculum in the hands of the skilled teachers inspires pupils learning and makes a significant contribution to their outstanding personal development”. The Schools own website and Eyes Speak project also demonstrates their commitment to the arts and the school have been involved in many creative projects such as a film based on the lives of pupils.

Reaction to the award: “We are really proud and think this recognises all the fantastic work that has gone on in Kingsmead over the year. It was fantastic to see our children perform on stage. It’s the whole team at Kingsmead and our creative teaching and exciting and motivating curriculum that we are really proud of and this makes it all worthwhile.”

Finalists:
The City Academy, Hackney
The Petchey Academy

Winner: Ann Tayler Children's Centre

Ann Tayler Children’s Centre has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that commitment and care is given to parents beyond their role. Their “Home Safety Equipment Scheme” saw 26 families have access to various equipment last term. As well as providing parent learning programmes to integrate parents from a wide range of migrant communities, backgrounds and circumstance, they have built strong working relationships with JobCentre Plus, all working towards a common goal.

Acting Head of Centre Kaushika Amin said: “We are thrilled and ecstatic. It’s a recognition of our good work and the numbers of families who use our services.”

Finalists:
Wentworth Nursery School and Children's Centre
Morningside Children's Centre

Winner: Wentworth Nursery School and Children's Centre

One parent of a Wentworth pupil said: Wentworth Nursery has a great recycling sustainability policy that is taught to children in an engaging and fun manner. The children are encouraged to be “happy world heroes”. My child’s awareness of green issues is probably more advanced than many adults; this is mainly down to the way it is taught at Wentworth.

Kym Foley, Sustainable Schools Coordinator, said: “I’m really happy and impressed with the kids, they have really embraced sustainability. They are so young but they walk around the nursery telling the adults what to do, like turning off the lights. We have parents telling us that their children are telling them to recycle!”

Finalists:
Jubilee Primary School
Skinners' Academy

Winner: Linklaters, Clapton Girls' Academy

Clapton Girl’s Academy says that the LinkLaters Programme has contributed greatly to the Learning Trusts values of Aspire, Achieve and Innovate. We are confident that thanks to our combined efforts we will continue to raise life chances and aspirations of young people. Children’s Minister Tim Loughton visited the Academy on the 6th March 2012 to present the Big Society Award to Linklaters for their work with Clapton Academy.

Matthew Sparkes, of Linklaters, said: “Delighted and surprised to win this award as lots of fantastic corporate support in Hackney so we are touched that the programme was recognised tonight.”

Finalists:
UBS, The Bridge Academy

Winner: Schools at the Heart Programme

One of the Learning Trust’s behaviours is described as “Make Things Happen” and this describes neatly what Steve and his team does. From link ups with song writers, photo calls with the Prime Minister, every opportunity that has come our way to make sure Hackney Schools get the most of the 2012 Games has been grabbed. 98% of Hackney Schools are now signed up to the get Set Network, 108 primary pupils are now “Olympic Ambassadors” and they work closely with the Disability and Equalities Team to deliver the Hackney Sports Championships for over 2000 children participating in Paralympics sports.

Steve Herbert, Programme Manager for “To get acknowledged is amazing, so to win it has made my day. I’ve spent the whole day with our Primary Ambassadors so this is fantastic.”

Tilly Keady Herbert said: “Steve deserves it because he works really hard for us and gives us lots of information about the Olympics in Hackney.”

Finalists:
Admissions and Pupil Benefits Team
Hackney Music Service

Winner: Arcola Creative Learning, Arcola Theatre

Arcola Theatre acts as a creative hub for local schools, providing opportunities for children to learn, train and perform under the guidance of world class artists. The Arcola Start Project has entered into partnership with local primary schools Colvestone, De Beaviour, Holy Trinity, Princess May, Shacklewell and St Mathias to use the arts to develop aspirations of Hackney Children and provide teacher training to build confidence, ideas and skills. Since the project begun, 500 children have seen their first play, 200 children have enjoyed their first theatre visit and 25 teachers have been trained.

Creative Learning Manager Owen Calvert-Lyons said: “This is hugely exciting and really great and recognition of a whole team working behind us at Arcola as well as our whole team, schools, partners and artists that we work with.”

Finalists:
Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme, The Learning Trust

Winners:
Millfields Primary School (Primary)
Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form (Secondary)

Jane Betsworth, Headteacher of Millfields Primary School said: “I’m really pleased, mainly for all the staff at the school who work so hard and obviously for the children who are grateful for all the hard work of our staff. We’ve come on a long journey over the past 18 months or so and worked well together, and we’ve got there in a relatively short space of time.”

Annie Gammon, Headteacher of Stoke Newington School said: “I’m delighted on behalf of all of the staff and students and I think it’s a real affirmation of the real progress that everyone is making at the school and our determination to continue onwards and upwards.”

Ummamah Tarvala, sixth form student, said: “I’m delighted to be here and receive the award on behalf of the school. I feel our staff have worked very hard for it and deserve it.”

Winner: Queensbridge Primary School

Queensbridge pupils make outstanding progress in acquiring knowledge and skills to develop their qualities necessary for an excellent start to the next phase of education. The staff are forward thinking and make a significant contribution to the good and understanding features of the school. The school has received a vast number of award and achievements including their Outstanding Ofsted in 2011.

Headteacher Sarah Bailey said: “We are proud and it’s well deserved. We have an outstanding staff team who are sitting in the audience and enjoying every minute and it’s all for the children, who have fantastic outcomes.”

Finalists:
Millfields Primary School
St John of Jerusalem Primary School

Winner: Clapton Girls' Academy

Clapton’s strap line “First for Learning” summises the schools culture and ethos perfectly. The staff are committed to ensuring all students achieve the highest possible outcomes, Ofsted in 2008 stated Clapton as Outstanding with Outstanding Leadership reaffirmed in 2011. 10 years ago Clapton results were way below national average, come to today and this is not the case. G.C.S.E results have risen dramatically and 100% of students in Clapton Sixth Form have been offered University places. Clapton is recognised as a National Support School and is seen to be a stable and enriching platform where every member of staff makes an invaluable contribution to the school's ethos.

Headteacher Cheryl Day said: “We were delighted to be nominated so to get the award as well is fantastic. Thanks to all the team who have worked so hard.”

Chair of Governors Camilla Allwood said: “The staff work phenomenally hard to make the school such a fantastic place for the students. Their dedication and focus is entirely on the students and making it a great place to come to school.”

Finalists:
Our Lady's Convent High School
Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form

Winner: Catherine Aickin, Wentworth Nursery School and Children's Centre

“Wentworth is such a lovely place to work, I’ve been associated with it for a long time and it’s always been a nice place. My nomination came out of the blue but I was really flattered and inspired.”

Finalists:
Steve Garnar, Transport Solutions, The Learning Trust
Tracy Cullen, Queensbridge Primary School

Winners:
Cheryl Day, Clapton Girls' Academy
Jacqueline Bruton-Simmonds, Jubilee Primary School
Karen Coulthard, Berger Primary School
Patricia Cardis, Parkwood Primary School

Cheryl Day – Clapton Girls Academy - “Absolutely fantastic and delighted that they awarded all four of us and it sums up The Learning Trust, what a wonderful place to work.”

Jacqueline Bruton Simmonds – Jubilee Primary School – “Absolutely thrilled, I’ve been lucky and stand on the shoulders of so many people if you laid them all end to end! I’m really grateful for this

Karen Coulthard – Berger Primary School - “it’s fantastic to be part of this team and win this award together.”

Patricia Cardis – Parkwood Primary School – “Surprised and delighted and it’s wonderful to get a joint award. I feel so privileged to have spent the time I have in Hackney and it’s been a wonderful experience, with ups and downs, and I’ve worked with amazing people and continue to do so at the moment. A big thank you to those who have nominated and supported me.”