It has been a week of awards - although not necessarily winners. For the first time, the two teachers voted by their pupils in the Scottish education awards as “inspirational” went on to the finals of the UK teaching awards, held in London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (above).
Joe Walker, who teaches religious education and psychology at Liberton High in Edinburgh, and Moira Mackenzie, a nursery teacher at Park primary in Invergordon, did not come away with any spoils but they had the chance to mingle with the cream of UK teaching, supported by Peter Peacock, Education Minister.
Three Scottish teachers did emerge winners from another UK final, the Becta awards run by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency to promote best practice in ICT. They are Paul Thomson, headteacher of Jordanhill School in Glasgow (secondary leadership category); Sarah MacAlpine, Portree primary on Skye (runner-up inclusion category); and Helen Newman, Sanday Community School, Orkney (winner in the learning assistance category). They will receive their awards at a ceremony in January.
Finally, “the west’s favourite teacher” is Pauline Martin, a craft and design teacher at Larkhall Academy, who was entered by her pupils in the Radio Clyde awards. She joined other winners including Sharleen Spiteri of Texas, Walter Smith, the Scotland football coach, and Paul Slater of the menswear chain.
