With just three weeks left to enter this year’s TES Schools Awards, previous winners have spoken about the “wonderful impact” picking up one of the prestigious gongs has had on their work.
Victors have spoken of their affect on senior leadership, staff, pupils and local reputation.
In 2009, Drove Primary in Swindon won the Community Involvement category. Head Nick Capstick said: “People really take notice, and our success has enabled us to open doors that we couldn’t get near before.”
“For example, we are now getting #163;30,000-40,0000 of additional funding to run a youth club, and we’ve just had a fantastic new #163;500,000 extension built.
“Our profile with the local authority has been enhanced immeasurably, and there’s a lot more demand from parents so we’ve gone from two-form entry to three.”
For Jane Herriman, head of the Duston School in Northampton, whose school won the 2009 Leadership Team of the Year Award, being a winner had a great impact. “Before, we were a school with deep-rooted problems going back many years,” she said. “When we got the TESSA, it had a huge impact as it signalled the change that was taking place.
“Staff were recognised, we had lots of local press coverage and it helped us on many levels.
“Ofsted has acknowledged it too. Recently we were nominated as one of only five schools in the country to receive a Customer Excellence Award and that was because of the TESSA.
“We’ve also had a number of heads coming here to learn how we do it. It’s been really, really good for us,” Ms Herriman added.
DON’T MISS OUT IN 2011
TESSAs celebrate outstanding teams in the UK state and independent sector.
They recognise innovation in teaching, leadership and community involvement. The entry deadline is 5pm on 11 March 2011. The shortlist will be announced in April and the winners revealed at a gala luncheon in July.
www.tes.co.ukawards.
