Shortlist Spotlight

Get to know the Educate Awards 2022 shortlist! The Shortlist Spotlight details why each school or individual has been shortlisted this year.

The Communication Award

Gateacre School
Gateacre School actively strives to never hear the phrase ‘I didn’t know’. Understanding the importance of both online and offline communication, a large variety of methods are used to keep its school community up to date, including social media, newsletters, flyers, emails, calls, posters, websites, TV screens, apps, letters, and even radio shows.

Families of students are encouraged to sign up to the school’s app ‘Edulink ONE’ to receive information on a regular basis, and a ‘Transition Zone’ has been created on the school’s website where incoming students and parents can voice concerns and questions they may have, to which current students can respond and help out.

The school prides itself on its high level of communication, particularly its regular reach of over 10,000 impressions on social media, and has assisted other schools in the area with their own platforms.

Maricourt Catholic High School
‘Communication is everything’ to Maricourt Catholic High School, which is why it continuously looks for ways to develop the way it communicates, ensuring it meets the needs of everyone.

Its social media pages are rapidly growing in followers and engagement and a new, easy to navigate, website has been created with the direction of the whole school community. Digital prospectuses have been launched and subject videos are available to assist students in their subject choices. The school’s wellbeing champions recently launched a ‘Mindful Mondays’ podcast to connect with young people, and the school utilises Spotify, providing a ‘Revise in five’ playlist to help GCSE Business Studies students revise various topics.

Content is submitted to the press on a regular basis to keep itself connected to the local community and partners in the Archdiocese, emphasising its commitment to its heritage.

Litherland High School
Litherland High School prioritises connecting with its students using contemporary methods. The school communicates through print, social media, digital signage, and its website, also inviting guest speakers and holding events.

The school created ‘The Well-Being Zine ’ during Mental Health Awareness Week, to offer tips and resources for students to help them with their wellbeing. It also included QR codes and quotes from local celebrities such as Beth Tweddle. During the week of World Book Day, ‘The Livo Literary Festival’ was held where parents were invited to school to explore the library and learn about the services that the school offers whilst students held discussions with their teachers about their favourite books.

Ensuring that everything it does has substance and that the correct messages are conveyed is important to the school.

Outstanding Commitment to the Environment

Neston High School 
At Neston High School, staff and students are making a real impact when it comes to the environment. Its DT team, engineering students and an extra-curricular ‘Makerspace’ club, have designed and built three machines; a shredder, an injection moulder and a sheet press to take HDPE plastic (mainly bottle tops) and turn this material into new attractive products that are being offered for sale to parents and the wider community.

The school is also educating other schools on its developed processes through social media, face-to-face events, and online video clips. The local community are assisting with collections, and Neston High School has achieved the status of becoming a community point in the global ‘Precious Plastic Universe’.

Netherton Moss Primary School 
Netherton Moss Primary School is committed to ensuring that the experiences the children have in school are designed to give them the knowledge, skills and dispositions they need in order to participate actively and responsibly within the life of their own community and the wider world.

Its multi-layered approach seeks to engage and empower all the children to make positive changes in their own lives and that of others. Waste reduction and recycling is one of the key areas in which the children have taken control of the school’s systems.

Through the leadership of its Eco Club, the whole school regularly participates in a wide range of local and nation campaigns and surveys from the Big Garden Birdwatch, Switch Off Fortnight even the national Slug Survey.

Plantation Primary School 
Plantation Primary School has planted over 800 trees this year alone to help offset its carbon footprint, together with planting three beautiful living reading domes for the whole school to engage with the outside. The school had the honour of being awarded the accolade of Outstanding Beacon School from the Tree Council in recognition of its work and is just one of two schools to have receive this award this year.

The school’s gardening club has become completely self-sustainable and a viable business for the children to run and be proud of.

Not only this, the school’s carbon reduction plan is now in place and will be reviewed yearly as part of Year 3’s sustainability curriculum work.

Careers & Enterprise Award

Archbishop Blanch School
Archbishop Blanch School believe that ‘good careers education and guidance can give young people a flying start’.

Students’ experiences are enriched through innovative teaching methods, competitions, visiting speakers, virtual interactions, trips, signposting and one-to-one careers advice from a qualified careers advisor. Partnerships, which include the NHS, University of Liverpool, Durham University, St Peter’s College, Oxford, and more, enrich the school’s CEIAG immensely. Societies at Archbishop Blanch School, like Medic Society and Law Society allow students to gain real insight from working professionals. The work experience offer has seen students work in hospitals, alongside barristers in Oriel Chambers and shadowing journalists to name a few.

The school equips pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to help them identify their future careers and motivates them, strengthening their desire to achieve.

Meols Cop High School
Meols Cop High School uses an ambitious, strategic plan to offer bespoke pathways for each student.

Students at the school are engaged with careers and enterprise work from Year 7 onwards, spending their induction day at Edge Hill University. Year 8 and 9 see the pupils immersed into careers fairs, participating in STEM events, the ‘£5 challenge’, and a summer project. In Year 10, work experience is undertaken, and Year 11 involves a ‘Build Your Future’ day, where students complete mock interviews with industry experts. Innovative partnerships and creative collaboration also allow for plenty of access to career related learning and opportunities.

The school ensures that each child is supported intensively to make informed decisions that lead to success in their next destinations.

Ridgeway High School
At Ridgeway High School, ‘Futures’ is an educational, social, and moral priority for the school.

The programme involves a variety of Futures-oriented activities throughout each year. For example, webinars with employers, STEM Day, work experience, University visits, Shaping Futures Day, one-to-one interviews with careers advisors, subject taster sessions, Royal Institute of Maths visits, and much more. Most events take place on special charter days that are embedded throughout the academic year. The school believes that The Charter is an innovative framework of personal development opportunities and challenges. Enterprise is the school’s most popular option subject, with activities including charity fundraising.

Futures reflects and reinforces Ridgeway High School’s ethos and values, embodied by its LEARN vision.

Wirral Grammar School for Boys 
Wirral Grammar School for Boys encourages students to develop their skills, have the confidence to succeed, and make informed decisions about the future.

Through the wide variety of opportunities, all students are able to engage in a number of activities to help them decide on their next steps. The school’s aspirational programme is implemented through all years and includes Careers, taught as a stand-alone topic. Interactive events are held throughout the year including National Careers Week which hosts subject specific careers workshops and invites inspirational speakers to enthuse students. Close partnerships and challenges like the ‘Fuel10K Challenge’ encourage students to be engaged with enterprise and high-quality careers activities.

The programme helps students develop into enquiring, entrepreneurial, critical thinkers equipped with the skills and tenacity required to face the challenges of their future ventures.

SEND Provision Award

Abbot’s Lea School
Abbot’s Lea School recognises the benefits of good education and support for its families. Its job to break barriers to inclusion never stops. Staff recognise that “coping well” is not a good result and always aim to improve quality of life for families.

‘The new normal’ brought a sense of importance for the meaningful and inspiring learning experience – and the school brought back all the aspects of education that students missed so much during the lockdown.

The holistic approach to every student includes support for the whole family, so staff focused on connecting with this community. Every Friday, Abbot’s Lea was the centre of family life with parents/carers, siblings, grandparents and wider community joining its open assembly and relaxing with a cup of tea and cake.

Maghull High School
Inclusion and equity are at the heart of every decision that Maghull High School make. The school’s reputation for supporting SEND learners has catapulted and it has become a magnet in the area for supporting students with a variety of needs and a wide range of complexities.

Proud that it attracts families and students from across four local authorities, its SEND provision has moved to suited accommodation, including a sensory room.

The environment gives students a calm and safe area to self-regulate their emotions and has allowed us to further support our students with social emotional mental health needs often providing that warm, nurturing environment when at a time of crisis.

Notre Dame Catholic College
Notre Dame Catholic College serves a close catchment area In Everton, with currently 18% of pupils being on the SEND register and 3% of pupils having an EHCP.

The team has worked tirelessly to make the school truly inclusive for all pupils and to ensure that all they can achieve in an environment that is both supportive yet challenges them to push their personal boundaries and break the norms of society.

Staff have embarked on training for adaptive teaching, cognitive load and individual diagnosis/needs. The school has also been accepted onto the ASD Friendly Schools project, through Liverpool City Council and NHS England and has taken it upon itself to also work towards being an ADHD Friendly School through the ADHD Foundation. All SEND provision, including its resourced base provision, which is one of a kind in the city is now housed on the ground floor and is easily accessible for pupils with specialist supportive rooms.

Rainford High
Since winning the SEND Provision Award in 2021, Rainford High has proved that “We never stay stagnant. We never stop moving forward.” It is now supporting nine other high schools and continuing to spread inclusivity far and wide.

The school is now working with seven different authorities, with students coming out of the borough to access its provision. The school has over 70 students with EHCPs and its core curriculum provision, which is a smaller and supportive class based on stage not age for pupils with complex SEND, has grew this year to two classes of 20 pupils, with plans to move to three.

Every Rainford High teacher and TA is a teacher of SEND. The school continually invests in its staff with full commitment to inclusion in every classroom, not just its alternative provisions.

Innovative & Creative Literacy Award

Cowley International College
Cowley International College understands that different subjects are littered with nuances in reading writing skills, which is why the whole school curriculum prioritises disciplinary literacy.

Staff are committed to using a range of reading strategies and texts to provoke thought within pupils across all subjects. Each subject corridor has large, illustrated display boards that present a range of books inspired by their subject. The college also works with local primary schools to build confidence and create a sense of achievement in pupils to motivate them to want to develop literacy skills. The library hosts a range of literacy events and enrichment clubs for students and is stocked with books that students request, focusing on pupil voice.

Activities such as ‘Read a Book in a Day’ helps the school build a sense of community through shared reading experiences.

Childwall Sports & Science Academy
Childwall Sports & Science Academy wants to encourage students to develop an enjoyment of reading, expand their spoken and written vocabulary and strengthen their confidence and debating skills.

The academy, part of the Lydiate Learning Trust, launched ‘Project L’ in September 2020 to develop student literacy skills. The project motivates more students to read for pleasure through the incorporation of a bespoke 30-minute reading lesson into each school day, smaller literacy intervention groups, year-group specific literary canons and more. Leaders and teachers have participated in training about reading strategy as well as research involving Education Endowment Foundation’s seven recommendations for improving literacy in secondary schools and visits to St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Blackpool to observe the success of its literary canon.

The school’s dedicated curriculum time devoted to reading underpins its commitment to deeply embed literacy within its school culture.

Eldon Primary School
Innovative and creative approaches are important at Eldon Primary School, as it aims to close the language and vocabulary gap between wealthier and socially disadvantaged children.

Ongoing CPD for staff has created a reading centric school which opens contexts beyond children’s own experiences and enables access to a wider curriculum. It regularly provides students with a variety of opportunities to enhance their reading experience through creative methods such as the transformation of classrooms into bespoke 4D immersive rooms, engrossing them and assisting with oracy and writing. ‘Eldon Burrow’, a once nearby piece of derelict land has been transformed into an outdoor learning space where the intergenerational reading community can come together and bond over storytelling beside a campfire.

The school understands the critical importance of literacy and it receives the primacy it deserves across all subjects.

Outstanding Commitment to STEM

Eldon Primary School
At Eldon Primary School, STEM has taken a shining role in the curriculum, and staff aim to provide children with real-life, hands-on experiences, developing their science capital and inspiring their curiosity.

This year, children have been given the opportunity to participate in a whole school and regional engineering competition, watch eggs hatch into chicks and caterpillars grow into butterflies, visit the farm in their very own playground, design and manufacture boats, and plant their own orchard to observe over time.

The ‘STEAM Team’ science club takes place every half term, enabling children across the school at attend extra-curricular science activities. The club has been in high demand and very well attended throughout the year with children excited to take their learning home and complete it again with their parents.

Great Crosby Catholic Primary School
Earlier this year, Great Crosby Catholic Primary School held its first ever Science Workplace Workshop, in conjunction with Smashing Stereotypes from British Science Week. The day was jam packed full of exceptional activities, with special guests who work in STEM industries such as doctors, nurses, environmental advisors and engineers.

Valewood Primary School was also invited to join in the fun and the two schools went above and beyond the science curriculum and inspired many children to have career aspirations in science industries.

Maghull High School
Maghull High School is continually developing and expanding its STEM club and delivers a multitude of associated opportunities and activities to students.

Since its inception in 2016, its lead teacher has built a thriving club which gives its regular attendees, as well as students across the whole school, a chance to experience real-life STEM and discover the multitude of exciting careers which STEM has to offer.

Through STEM club, students at Maghull High School have had the opportunity to take part in national STEM competitions, meet many scientists and engineers as well as discovering science themselves through practical investigations and challenges beyond the science curriculum.

Outstanding Arts in School

Netherton Moss Primary School
It is Netherton Moss Primary School’s wish that its students develop a genuine love of reading, writing and performing as a way of understanding the rich and diverse culture of the world around them.

Throughout the course of the year, the children were taken on an adventure that led to a final performance: ‘Follow the Dunnings Bridge Road’, a Liverpool spin on ‘The Wizard of Oz’, about two children reluctantly moving from London to Liverpool. The performance included British Sign Language, poetry, dancing, singing, and more. The stage itself was prepared by the stagecraft team who created sets and props and controlled the sound and lighting. The publicity team designed and produced posters, programmes and tickets.

Each year group was involved in the performance and had the opportunity to explore the city and appreciate the arts, visiting libraries, museums, beaches and other Liverpool landmarks.

Formby High School
Formby High School celebrated the work of two flagship areas of its creative arts programme.

Its musical theatre company created two award winning productions this year. Performances included powerful vocals, innovative staging and choreography. This included the Year 7 Pantomime, ‘Peter Pan’, to 3 sell-out houses, ‘The Groove Dance Show’ at The Atkinson, Southport, and more. The music department team also continued their amazing work in the land of virtual choir recordings with a special charity project supporting the work of the Alder Centre with ‘Light of your Life’. The song features intergenerational voices from across the city region, united in their admiration for a wonderful community resource at Alder Hey Hospital.

The creative arts team wanted to re-ignite the creative spark across the school and community after the challenging times of the past few years.

St Mary’s Catholic College
After the challenges of the pandemic, St Mary’s Catholic College wanted to bring back the joy of theatre to its college community.

Students took to the stage of the Floral Pavilion in the whole school production of ‘Legally Blonde’. The cast was made up of 100 students from Year 7 to 13 who worked tirelessly learning lines, perfecting harmonies and rehearsing dance routines. In addition to this, buzz was driven by Year 13 media students who created social media material to launch the show. Other sixth form students assisted in the direction, choreography, musical arrangements, set and prop creation, the running of rehearsals, and more.

Primary school students were also invited to get involved, and together, everyone overcame all the challenges to ensure that the production was one to remember.

Stockport Academy
At Stockport Academy, students and staff give countless hours to their art; and have recently performed their ninth whole school production – ‘Matilda’.

There are up to 100 students in every production across all year groups; on the stage, and backstage. Students working behind the scenes work together to create the sets, costumes and props to a professional standard, taking initiative and channelling their creativity and flair for ‘Matilda’. Other performances include the choir who performed at the Trafford Centre, raising over £200 for charity in half an hour as well as dance students who choreograph dances to share with students in primary schools.

The school’s productions have brought the community together; at the end of shows, members of the audience don’t leave, they continue to dance; bringing together generations of the whole school community.

The Hollins
Beyond Labels is a Spoken Word Poetry platform at The Hollins, that gives young people the opportunity to connect with a variety of artists in order to develop their sense of creativity, curiosity and adventure; and to embrace all aspects of their uniqueness without fear of judgement.

‘The Unified Generation’, is the third iteration from the Beyond Labels Spoken Word series. The Beyond Labels Collective, have created a powerful and thought-provoking anthology – raising awareness of issues such as social inequalities, mental health, community cohesion, climate change and unity. The poets also created two ground breaking short films – ‘Sentiments of Unity’ and ‘Call from Nature’, which was followed with a hugely successful 11-date national tour, performing to over 500 community members.

The Beyond Labels project has allowed pupils to use a unique art form to amplify their voice to help build communities that are healthy and empowered.

Community Partnership Award

Archbishop Blanch Church of England High School
In April, 34 members of school staff, including governors, from Archbishop Blanch Church of England High School, took part in the Ramadan Challenge. For one day, staff fasted in solidarity with members of the local Muslim community, fasting from sunrise to sunset.

Working in partnership with Greensville Trust, a local Muslim charity, members of the trust visited the school and delivered assemblies, prior to the start of Ramadan, to highlight what Ramadan is and why it is important to the Muslim community.

Through sponsorship, staff from Archbishop Blanch raised £3,500 for Al-Sabeen Hospital in Yemen, enabling the hospital to purchase an incubator for new-born babies. The event has also allowed the school to build significant links with its local community, supporting the work that was started by Archbishop Stuart Blanch, whom the school was named after.

Chorlton High School
Chorlton High School is a true microcosm of Manchester: whatever is going on in Manchester is represented within the community that makes up Chorlton High School, both positive and negative. The school works hard to make sure that everyone within its diverse community sees themselves represented and celebrated.

When Manchester was torn apart by the Arena bombing back in 2017, Chorlton High School took action to bring its community together, and now has a leading role in learning, healing, and ensuring that everyone has a sense of belonging in the school.

Its ‘Community of Belonging’ work has gone from strength to strength, evolving into a Beelong Festival, which takes place annually and encompasses its Pride Festival, the Great Get Together and many workshops and events that are led by and celebrate the groups in the community.

Maricourt Catholic High School
Over the past year, Maricourt Catholic High School has held a variety of events and initiatives in the community including litter picking and making Christmas hampers for the local residents.

The school created Mercy Week and co-ordinated activities and events for its students throughout the week to provide opportunities to put the Mercy Education Values into action.

The theme of compassion inspired the students from the Sixth Form Centre, during Mercy Week along with their chaplain Mr. Ken McCabe, to visit the Missionaries of Charity on Seel Street, Liverpool, where they prayed with the Sisters, helped them prepare food and serve it to the men who called at the door.

The Hollins
The Hollins’ Let’s Be Foundation continues to serve the needs of the local community and beyond – letting people know that no beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.

The Foundation is entirely youth-led and volunteers play an active role in developing and delivering positive youth social action, which aims to bring about positive and real change within the community.

Let’s Be volunteers work extensively across the sector with various agencies to tackle issues such as loneliness and social isolation among the elderly, homelessness, deprivation and food poverty. In the process, students have touched the hearts of so many people in the community, and it’s with these strong connections The Hollins has made ‘our community’ into ‘our family’.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Award

Wright Robinson College
At Wright Robinson College, its duty of care for the health and wellbeing of all members of the Wright Robinson Community permeates all aspects of college life.

Wright Robinson College have created and implemented its own whole school wellbeing programme called ‘My Mind My Body’ (MMMB). The programme is now fully embedded within all aspects of the college’s curriculum, enrichment pastoral support and staff programme. The curriculum highlights the social, physical, and mental benefits of physical activity through PE activities, the English department through poetry and MFL within a healthy eating and mental health unit. There are also wellbeing weeks which provides further tools and knowledge to support mental wellbeing through walks, wellbeing evenings, staff breakfast, raffles and more.

The school actively promotes a mentally healthy environment to support students, staff and parents/carers.

Canon Sharples CE Primary School and Nursery
One of Canon Sharples CE Primary School and Nursery’s aims as a school is to develop the ‘whole’ child, helping its pupils thrive.

Over the last 18 months, the importance of developing understanding of how to look after mental health and wellbeing within the school community has been key. In this time, the curriculum has embedded the ‘Thrive Approach’ which involves staff receiving high quality training to effectively support every child’s social and emotional development, promoting mental health. In class, children participate in ‘Thrive lessons’ to understand themselves, self-regulate and foster skills and positive relationships. A ‘Thrive Hive’ area has also been created in school which is a calm, functional space for groups and individuals to partake in mental health sessions.

The school understands that to be happy, healthy and ready to learn, both physical and mental health need to be looked at.

St Michael’s Catholic Primary School
At St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, the community work hard to ensure that the mental health and wellbeing of students, staff and the wider community is looked after.

A Mental Health & Wellbeing (MHWB) Team was formed, formulating a plan to deliver an engaging range of events for the year. Activities such as sports, music, art, and yoga are available for students to partake in to help them be happier and healthier. Pupils are taught the importance of connecting and positive relationships through regular visits to local nursing homes. Collections for local food banks are also held, demonstrating the significance of giving. The school also has a ‘Sensory Room’ which contains Lego therapy and ELSA activities, where anyone can come to chat and relax.

Students, parents, and staff are also consulted to assess individual needs and wishes so that they can be acted upon.

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School

Eldon Primary School
After commandeering a piece of derelict wasteland, Eldon Primary School transformed it into a place that would give children the natural space needed to grow and learn outdoors.

Eldon Primary School has three qualified PE teachers delivering outstanding teaching of PE and improving the physicality of pupils. A combination of coaching strengths, including gymnastics, football, cricket and tennis enable children to develop with expert teaching!

The school continues provides outstanding PE opportunities for our children and delivers a staggering 21 different extra-curricular clubs for free.

St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School
Although St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School prefers to be defined by what it can achieve by living out the School Games Values (teamwork, passion, respect, honesty, determination and self-belief).

This year, the school achieved the Platinum School Games Mark in recognition of its commitment to school sport, clubs and competition and have been a Gold School for the last five years.

During 2021/22, St Elizabeth’s had the joint highest number of entries into competitions in South Sefton and was always first in the queue for A, B and C team entries into competitions, in order to provide every child with the opportunity to represent our school.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, physical activity is an integral part of the pupil experience. Across high quality PE lessons, active cross curricular sessions, and a variety of afterschool clubs, children participate in a minimum of 2-3 hours of physical activity a week.

The school took part in 22 different inclusive sports events and competitions this year. The school provides bespoke curriculum activities that improve both physical activity and mental health.

One notable achievement is when the school made changes to the national curriculum swimming sessions, which has led to a significant impact in swimming data moving from 28% of children making National Curriculum Standard in 2018 to 86% in 2022 (52% above national average).

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary School

Cowley International College
Cowley International College has a long and decorated tradition in promoting sport.

Though known for its strong rugby and hockey tradition, the school has evolved to show a commitment in providing sporting opportunities for both students and staff. The PE department consists of a huge range of sports including trampolining, wall climbing, aerobics, golf, badminton, cricket, and more. There are 30 activities or clubs running each week throughout the year that allow students to compete too. The school also hosts projects, such as Girls in Sport Day, where Year 7 girls enjoy a day with the PE department, trialling different activities, and every Year 7 student participates in Bikeability training. Partnerships with sports development teams, primary schools, Everton FC, and others, allow for a further range of opportunities.

Cowley International College prides itself on its physical education and sporting achievements of its students.

Wright Robinson College
Wright Robinson College invests heavily in PE and Sport and understands how it can positively impact the lives of students.

The school’s PE department creates a nurturing environment for all students to engage, to be challenged and ultimately to succeed. Its ‘My Mind My Body’ programme increases students’ awareness of the importance of physical activity on the mind and body. The extra-curricular programme, ‘Let’s Play’ is accessible to all students and offers a wide range of activities where they can play for physical, social, or mental reasons, and 1200 pupils each week take part in this. There are also 65 sports teams that provide pupils with the opportunity to compete citywide, at regional level, and national level.

The school wants students to understand how physical activity can be used for self-care and the development of life skills that sport can develop.

Rainford High
Rainford High provide an inclusive and aspirational PE and Sport offer that is intent on delivering high quality teaching.

Opportunities are available for students of all abilities, including disability games as part of a physical and mental health week, in partnership with Everton FC. Sporting scholarships are also offered, in partnership with AJ Bell, to over 30 elite performers to ensure they reach their goals. The PE department includes a ‘Future Leaders’ programme that develops the students’ leadership skills for their future career ambitions. ‘Sports Leaders’ have an excellent reputation in the local community, delivering a range of sporting activities to primary schools. Sports presentation evenings allow the school community to come together to celebrate success.

Rainford High understand that students can become more positive, vibrant, confident, responsible, and more, through the means of PE and Sport.

Leadership Team of the Year

Middlefield Community Primary School
Having served as the largest hub in Speke/Garston during the pandemic, Middlefield Community Primary School strove to go beyond just getting back to normal.

Improvements to its curriculum, attendance, staff development and wellbeing were driven forward by a brand new SLT and have impacted across the whole school, from EYFS to Key Stage 2.

The school has been able to buy its first ever minibus, iPads and subscriptions to online maths platforms which have improved pupil performance. SLT have also overseen a renewed commitment to staff development and wellbeing.

St Wilfrid’s Church of England Primary Academy
In January 2022, Ofsted recognised at St Wilfrid’s Church of England Primary Academy there are no areas for development and ‘leaders are never complacent’. This judgement reflects the achievements of senior leaders, who constantly strive for excellence.

Academic performance is consistently above national average for all phases, and the school was recently listed in the top 250 primary schools in England (Sunday Times School Guide).

Its progress data reflects the quality of a bespoke ‘literacy-rich’ curriculum which is of the highest quality and challenges all children. Investment by leaders in a full classroom size sensory room, fully equipped STEM room and progressive Early Years Outdoors ensures the school’s environment excites and stimulates learning, fosters personal growth and responds to individual needs of all children.

Wright Robinson College
Following three senior retirements and a cyber-attack at Wright Robinson College, there have been some significant challenges faced by the senior management team that were successfully navigated through and overcome in 2020-2022.

The ultimate achievement saw the college retain its Outstanding Ofsted grading in October 2021, being the first school in the country post Covid to achieve this. It was made possible by a determined team effort led by a newly created, highly successful senior leadership team. A team committed to ensuring students continue to receive a truly outstanding quality of education.

Business Manager of the Year

Kate Green – Meadowside School
Without Kate Green, Meadowside School wouldn’t have the amazing learning experiences that it facilitates.

Kate has worked at Meadowside School for seven years and is a key member of the SLT, manages the school budget and leads on health and safety amongst many other roles. An unofficial motto in the school is “What would Kate Green say?”, as a simple mention of Kate’s name can lead to a knowing look and safer behaviour from a student who may be attempting to breach a guideline.

Not only does Kate work at Meadowside School, she extends her professional commitment to a long-standing voluntary post as chair of governors in a local secondary school, and voluntarily supports disabled children’s access to their own holidays during her own holidays.

Stuart Davidson – Myerscough College
Stuart Davidson has overseen great strategic recruitment and marketing developments for Myerscough College.

Without Stuart’s single-handed co-ordination of tutors, accommodation, catering and estates, there would not have been an open day, where visitors had the opportunity to try physical activities such as building their own engine, as opposed to the usual open morning the college holds. He always goes the extra mile, even putting signs up on the M6 himself, assembling student furniture, and more. Stuart is keen to trust his team with creative freedom, strategic decisions and budgeting.

Stuart has never shied away from getting stuck into non-managerial tasks in order to keep the department ticking, all with his trademark sense of humour.

Sue McMullen – St Michael’s Catholic Primary School
Sue McMullen joined St Michael’s Catholic Primary School in 2011, initially to cover for 1 day in the school office. Eleven years later, she is now an integral part of the school team.

Coming from a business background in operations management, Sue brought a fresh new approach to the school and has positively contributed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the school systems. In addition to managing the school’s finance, HR and administration, Sue works closely with other departments, also being the school photographer, initiating press releases, has qualified as a mental health first aider for the school, and much more.

Sue is an excellent role model for all staff at the school and is a great advocate for ensuring all of the students are well provided for.

Teacher of the Year

Keren Elson – Riverside Primary School
Keren is a much loved teacher at Riverside Primary School. Keren has flourished throughout her teaching career, from an excellent classroom teacher to the inspirational RAW (Religion and World Views) lead she is today.

Over the last twenty years Keren has played a huge part in the development of the school spiritually, culturally and morally. As an outstanding classroom practitioner, she has improved the outcomes of the lives of children year on year, particularly the school’s most vulnerable disadvantaged children. She is a talented and creative teacher and leader who never loses sight of the most important aspect of her role – the children.

Kira Redmond – St Peter’s CE Primary School
Nominated by a parent, Kira Redmond from St Peter’s CE Primary School has touched the lives of many children, in particular one little boy who was scared of going to school – that is until he moved to St Peter’s and was placed in Kira’s class.

Through her honest nurturing, passion, patience, love, time, encouragement, support and kindness, the pupil now has completely different outlook on school and his anxiety has diminished and he is now excelling inside and outside of the classroom.

Kira has had a profound effect on this pupil and his family, with the little boy often telling his mum “Mrs Redmond just gets me” and “Mrs Redmond is the only reason I like school!”.

Lauren Seggie – The Barlow RC High School
Lauren Seggie is a passionate, inspirational and committed pastoral lead at The Barlow RC High School.

She is currently head of Year 10 and cares deeply for every student. Lauren goes above and beyond for her year group and builds lasting relationships with both students and parents, letting them all know they have her support. Every morning she meets all year 10 pupils on the gate and greets them with a smile and checks they are ready to learn, checking they have all their equipment and are happy.

Stephanie Wardale – Hillside High School
Stephanie Wardale has been instrumental in transforming Hillside High School. As vice principal and an inspirational leader, she’s supported the team to enhance teaching and learning, reinvigorate curriculum and develop a culture of tangible ambition.

Her unwavering ambition to create a world class education for pupils in a widely disadvantaged community has had a huge impact on outcomes and progress, with recognition from quality assurance.

Steff’s knowledge and passion means that her vision is presented with absolute clarity to staff, empowering them to implement change in their lessons; her leadership has had demonstrable and sustainable impact on knowledge retention, and attitude to learning for all pupils.

School Support Star of the Year

Debbie Gardiner – Meadowside School
Debbie Gardiner has been working as a full-time teaching assistant at Meadowside School for 35 years and is a key member of the school’s support team.

Whilst she enables learning for children with severe learning difficulties, Debbie also takes on numerous other roles to help the team. She makes a difference on a day-by-day basis, including helping two non-reading students learn to read from the board. Debbie also leads the school’s home school association, organising social events to enable parents who may feel isolated to meet and share experiences. She also fundraiser for the school, co-ordinates events, and much more.

Debbie is the ultimate caring professional, not just a support for pupils and their families, but a support for the whole staff team too.

Mark Costello – Launchpad Centre KS4
Mark Costello is a learning support assistant at Launchpad Centre Key Stage 4, but this in no way covers everything his role entails.

He acts not only as a learning support assistant, but as a social worker, one-to-one teacher, gym instructor, mini-bus driver, and much more. Mark is the epitome of the word ‘proactive’, preventing small concerns from turning into enormous problems. Liked by all students and staff, he brings a calming influence in the classroom and throughout the building and is always ready to provide support to not only students but staff too, who may have professional or personal issues.

Mark, recognised as the kingpin who holds everyone together in Launchpad, is the first person through the Launchpad door in the morning, and the last to leave after school.

Mike Smith – Cardinal Langley RC High School
Mike Smith, design and technology technician, has worked at Cardinal Langley for six years, and has touched the lives of staff and students alike.

Whether it is supporting students with their work, making visors for critical care staff at North Manchester General Hospital, constructing the set for the school production, or redesigning the school’s breakfast club, Mike is always there to help out. He brings a unique skill set from his varied background in engineering, sharing his knowledge with staff and students alike. Mike is part of the wider school community and always has a ‘let’s do it’ attitude, even building and installing COVID screens around school to ensure staff were kept safe.

Mike is the first to help out when students are in need and is more than happy to support other departments in school.

Phil Johnson – The Academy of St Francis of Assisi
Phil Johnson is the longest ever serving chaplain at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, being at the school for over six years.

Phil takes on many roles to support, educate, and enhance the community. In addition to being a place of worship, his chapel is a place where he runs sessions to counsel vulnerable students, organises the choir at lunch and works with local churches. He is passionate about music and was even given the task of writing a school song, ‘Love & Learn’ which he created in just a week. Each Christmas, different cultures and communities are gathered together to celebrate and learn from one another, thanks to Phil.

Phil is the glue that binds the school community together, being a rock to staff, students and the wider community.

Most Inspirational Alternative Provision

Chorlton High School
Chorlton High School implements a structured form of an alternate provision for international new arrivals who are new to English. The provision has had to develop quickly, due to global and political change. In 2016, the school had 6 new arrivals and in 2022, it now has 45.

The school had to undergo extensive training and development as a specialist team and as a school to ensure it was best equipped to welcome these students and their families, and to best support their needs.

Academic, pastoral and everyday life support is consistently provided not only for the students, but also their families and the local community. Chorlton High School cherishes and celebrates diversity; everybody is welcome.

Endeavour Darwin Vale High School
Endeavour is a ‘school within a school’ that offers internal alternative provision for students at Darwen Vale High School.

Launched in September 2021, Endeavour enables pupils to overcome barriers, re-engage in learning and develop skills required o successfully re-integrate into the school community. This is done by providing an inclusive environment where all students feel safe and supported. The provision benefits small class sizes and students with a range of barriers to their learning are provided with targeted support.

When students begin their journey in Endeavour, they explore what the word endeavour means to them and students are encouraged to endeavour in all that they do.

Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust
The Element Centre was set up by the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, to provide a nurture environment. The centre’s name is based on Sir Ken Robinson’s idea that children benefit from finding their missing element.

The trust believes that a child’s academic, financial and social opportunities reduce dramatically when a student is removed from a mainstream school environment. Therefore, it has created a centre that gives students hope, respite and nurture to help them find their missing element on the path to future successes.

At the Element Centre, staff strive to help students discover their talents and pursue their passions.

Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider

Everton Football College
Everton Football College has developed rapidly, providing support beyond the curriculum, including pastoral care and outstanding football coaching, and opportunities at all levels.

Staff at the college understand the importance of student health and wellbeing, going above and beyond, particularly during the pandemic where daily live sessions and challenges were held, to keep students just as engaged. The staff have been instrumental in developing pathways for pupils and are always seeking to give them valuable life changing experiences. Students are funded to take trips to places like Aruba and Spain for further coaching and playing experiences, which has a great impact back in the classroom too.

The college uses a holistic approach, excellent subject knowledge and expertise, and an inclusive environment to create equal opportunities for all students and to inspire them.

Wargrave House School and College
Wargrave House School and College’s LEAP autism specialist post 16 provision is proud to offer an innovative curriculum that goes beyond the classroom.

Most of the timetable takes place off site in the community, including a new offsite classroom that was recently added, which LEAP students originally worked on in 2018 alongside Enovert staff and community partners to develop the site. Students have also opened their own sustainable upcycling/recycling shop, online eBay shop and community market garden from the Hub. The site is used to build raised beds for food, and plants to give to food banks and sell. Bird boxes and feeding stations are also built to support the local area and nature conservation.

LEAP students at the college have access to pathways that develop, engage and are relevant to individual needs and aspirations.

ProDirect Football Academy Lancashire
ProDirect Football Academy Lancashire was set up by former football players, Trevor Sinclair and Jamie Milligan, with the aim of using football to inspire and guide young people to be the best versions of themselves.

Trevor and Jamie work hard to create an enjoyable learning experience every day. Students learn the value of teamwork, self-reliance and the role of hard work in achieving success. Some students have experienced disappointment of being released from local professional clubs, joining the academy with a bruised self-esteem, which is then rebuilt through their education at the academy. The tight-knit group of 38 scholars means that they are able to receive individual care.

No matter their academic background, everyone gets individual advice, mentoring, and teaching, and football is used to motivate students to achieve beyond what they may have expected.

Most Inspirational Secondary School

Cowley International College
Over the past academic year, Cowley International College has enjoyed numerous successes including retaining its ‘Good’ Ofsted rating.

The college has been involved in an innovative programme at Knowsley Safari Park that looks to connect young adults with wildlife and the outdoors to support mental health. It has also created its own termly reading magazine – What Should I Read Next? – in a bid to instil a love of reading amongst the school community.

Amongst many other achievements, the school has been honoured with the Eco Schools Green Flag Award and The Green Tree Schools Bronze Award by the Woodlands Trust.

Rainford High
Rainford High believes it is the most inspirational secondary school based on the fact it never stops developing and improving its offer for every child and the community it serves.

This year, the school has continued to develop and improve following the pandemic. Its ethos of Everyone Matters, Everyone Helps and Everyone Succeeds supports its drive to be the best school it can be. This means delivering a breadth of offer to support young people to be the best they can be.

Sharples School
Sharples School is a fully comprehensive secondary school in Bolton. Many of its students have never ventured far out of Bolton in their lives and from the moment they join the Sharples Family, the school aims to give all students the aspiration and the experiences to change their outlook on life.

It is a truly diverse community, with students from every faith, background and ability. Its school motto is Learn, Dream, Achieve and every single member of the team displays those values every day.

The Hollins
The Hollins is rated as a ‘good’ school but believes it’s the amazing ‘Let’s Be Foundation’, and its young volunteers that make it an inspirational school.

The Hollins’ ‘Let’s Be Foundation’ is a unique and innovative youth-led social action initiative which gives students the platform to serve their local community, develop into future leaders and create a movement for positive social change.

The student volunteers are the backbone of the foundation and have touched the hearts of so many people in the community; tackling key social issues such as loneliness and social isolation among the elderly, homelessness, deprivation and food poverty.

Most Inspirational Primary School

Christ the King Catholic Primary School
Christ the King Catholic Primary School is confident that it is an inspiring primary school, making a huge impact on families and serving as the community’s rock.

The curriculum at the school is a demonstration of the inclusive attitude in everything that it does; children are taught in a creative and engaging manner to ensure that they develop a love of learning. All students have unique opportunities and all needs are catered for and explored in a hands-on way, whether it’s sign language lessons, Viking day, trumpet lessons, sports competitions, time in forest school, and more. There is a strong ethos of togetherness and family that inspires the whole community.

Staff are committed to ensuring that every student leaves Christ the King Catholic Primary School with the skills and knowledge that they need to live life to the fullest.

Parish CE Primary School
As a result of its socio-economic context, Parish CE Primary School strives to provide its community with rich, exciting and unforgettable learning experiences.

The school habitually supports schools from across the Liverpool City Region, providing guidance and inspiring learning. Its ‘Rainbow Curriculum’ was constructed to ensure that students are successful in life and learning, no matter their starting points, symbolising hope from a Christian perspective. The curriculum sets high expectations and includes ‘Pots of Gold’ experiences which allows each child to have two, fully funded, memorable visits each year, including visits to airports, to watch musicals, and more, taking financial pressure off parents. If students can’t experience the world just yet, the world is brought to them.

Students are taught to dream big and realise that they can achieve anything they wish to.

St. Peter’s CE Primary School
Pupils at St Peter’s CE Primary School are able to flourish as a result of the leaders and staff providing them with the very best education that they can.

Many students have families who have low incomes, and they are witnesses to crime as a result of their local area. This motivates a lot of the curriculum; employment aspirations are raised and there is education against crime as well as mental health related issues. All KS2 children receive a crime awareness and prevention programme, Project Chameleon, which was featured on ITV news. The school also works with partners, including Healthy Mind UK, to deliver further messages.

St Peter’s CE Primary School’s vision is for all students to develop the knowledge and skills they need to prosper in and contribute to society and use their motto, “Learn, sparkle & shine” to achieve this.

WOW Recognition Award

Beech Hall School
Last year, six students from Beech Hall School, aged between 13-16 years old, swam the English Channel for charity.

In a relay style swim, the students battled ferocious jellyfish, horrible seasickness and challenging French currents to succeed. They completed the swim in 12 hours and 13 minutes and the incredible effort saw the school raise over £40,000 for Mencap.

Phoenix Primary School
Phoenix Primary School’s whole school conservation project is based on the idea of Liverpool following in Chester’s footsteps and becoming a city that only uses sustainable palm oil in products.

This has been an amazing, award winning and spectacular addition to the Phoenix curriculum, inspiring an army of conservationists who are determined to change the world.

This is just the start for Phoenix Primary, with personal development at the heart of what it is doing, children are leading the way to becoming future world changers, climate heroes and successful conservationists.

The Academy of St Nicholas
The Academy of St Nicholas recently welcomed over 60 Afghan students as part of the National ‘Warm Welcome’ Operation. The school has carefully introduced students to their new surroundings and ensured they feel part of the St Nicholas community.

They now have access to a bespoke curriculum which allows them to ‘flourish and thrive’ in line with the academy’s vision and mission.

Outside of school, staff have taken students to visit the sights of Liverpool and have even helped develop their passion for cricket and football.