29 educational professionals from Wales have been announced as finalists for the national awards which returns with a new category.
This year, 29 education professionals have made it to the finals of the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru, which celebrates inspiring education professionals across Wales.
Pupils, colleagues, and parents have nominated the extraordinary education professionals in their lives, and the nominees have now been shortlisted to 29 finalists across ten categories, including ‘Headteacher of the Year’, and ‘Pupils’ Award for Best Teacher’.
This year sees the introduction of a new category - The Betty Campbell MBE award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities’ - named after Wales’ first black headteacher. This award will recognise an individual, team or school that has demonstrated an outstanding awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom.
The new award has been welcomed by Betty’s daughter, Elaine Clarke, who said:
The Award is a wonderful way to promote inclusion of all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and we are sure the recipients will continue to be inspired and develop future generations in the footsteps of our mother.
The decision to introduce ‘The Betty Campbell MBE Award’ to the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru was a recommendation by Professor Charlotte Williams OBE, who led a review into the Welsh curriculum last year to recommend how to promote the inclusion of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, histories, contributions and lived experiences in schools.
Professor Charlotte Williams OBE said:
Diversity is a central and cross cutting theme of the new curriculum. This award will encourage schools to think strategically about how they can embed this important dimension within all that they do.
The launch of this award is a sure sign that the Welsh Government is responding swiftly to the recommendations of the Ministerial report on diversity in the new curriculum.
The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:
The calibre of this year’s nominations has, as ever, been outstanding. They demonstrate the breadth of inspiring education professionals we have here in Wales and it’s important we recognise that.
We have so much good work promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities by schools and educators across Wales, and this is recognised by the new Betty Campbell MBE award.
I look forward to celebrating these fantastic individuals who go above and beyond for their profession.
Join the conversation with #TeachingAwardsCymru2022 or follow @WG_Education.
The Professional Teaching Awards Cymru 2022 finalists
Headteacher of the Year
Meurig Jones, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, Pontypool / Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, Bridgend
Kathryn Matthews, Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Caerphilly
Inspirational Use of the Welsh Language
Elizabeth Hamlin, Aberdare Town Church in Wales, Aberdare
Iona Llyr, Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Llanelli
Mari Salisbury, Ysgol Croes Atti, Flint
Outstanding New Teacher
Holly Gordon, Ysgol Bryn Derw ASD Special School, Newport
Ifan Tomos Jenkins, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph
Danielle Powell, Pantysgallog Primary School, Merthyr Tydfil
Pupil (or Pupils’) Award for Best Teacher
Julia Adamson, Cadoxton Primary School, Barry
Laura Buffee, Haverfordwest High VC School, Haverfordwest
Bethan Howells, Treorchy Comprehensive School, Treorchy
School Business Manager/Bursar
Claire Coakley, St Martin’s School, Caerphilly
Honora Rowlands, Christ the Word Catholic School, Rhyl
Sandra Sant, Hawarden High School, Deeside
Supporting Teachers and Learners
Carolyn Platt, Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay
Gill Sullivan, Maesteg High School, Maesteg
Ysgol Glan Clwyd Support Team, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph
Teacher of the Year in a Primary school
Lee Arthur, Llanharan Primary School, Pontyclun
Sean Jones, Ysgol Glan Gele, Abergele
Charmaine Riley, Radyr Primary School, Radyr
Teacher of the Year in a Secondary school
Kate Jones, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph
Lucy Morgan, Ysgol y Deri, Penarth
Mark Morgan, Pen y Dre High School, Merthyr Tydfil
Youth Work in Schools
Nigel Bowie, Local Authority, Vale of Glamorgan
Chris Gledhill, Conwy Youth Service, Conwy
Christian Williams, Heolddu Comprehensive School, Caerphilly
The Betty Campbell MBE award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities’ – new for 2022
Llanwern High School, Newport
Pembroke Dock Primary School, Pembroke Dock
Ysgol Penyffordd, Penyffordd