THE BEST IN WELSH EDUCATION REVEALED AT NATIONAL AWARDS

Ten education professionals from across Wales win at the Professional Teaching
Awards Cymru

Ten of the most inspiring, talented, and dedicated education professionals from across Wales have been revealed as winners of the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru.

29 finalists from all four corners of Wales, were invited to celebrate excellence in education at the awards on Sunday 10 July. The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, revealed the winners of the ten categories at a special ceremony held at The Coal Exchange in Cardiff. After last year’s ceremony was postponed due to Covid-19, the awards provided some much-needed positivity for those involved.

The Professional Teaching Awards Cymru recognise the brilliant work that our education professionals do across Wales to go above and beyond for our young people. This year saw the introduction of the new Betty Campbell MBE Award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities.

This award, won for the first time by Llanwern High School, is given to an individual, team or school that has demonstrated an outstanding awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom, Llanwern were nominated for this new award for working with great care to instil a culture that ensures all members of the school community feel a sense of belonging. The judges were particularly impressed with the school’s whole-school approach to the promotion of diversity.

Tracey Jarvis, Headteacher from Llanwern High School in Newport, part of the team who won this very special award for 2022, said: “We are incredibly proud to gain recognition for the work we are doing to make an inclusive school.  It is thanks to our staff, governors, learners, parents and carers for their commitment to celebrate diversity that it is now intrinsically embedded in our day-to-day culture.”

Charmaine Riley, who teaches at Radyr Primary School, won Teacher of the Year in a Primary School for her infectious positivity and going above and beyond to access the right resources for all her learners. Charmaine said “Winning this award means the world to me. I adore my job and feel so lucky to be teaching our learners lifelong skills. I don’t do it for recognition, I do it because I believe every child should have the best start in life.” 

Christian Williams won the award for Youth Work in Schools and the Community at Heolddu Comprehensive School. Christian uses a tailored approach for his learners and is not afraid to try new things and supports his colleagues to do the same.  Christian said “I’m totally blown away to win this award. It’s all about having a good team around you, and with a lot of hard work you can do the most amazing things to support our learners and help them get the most out of their education.”    

The Minister also presented the winner of the Welsh Government Special Recognition Award in memory of Mr Gareth Pierce, WJEC’s former Chief Executive, for his contribution to education in Wales, in particular, Welsh language education.

The Professional Teaching Awards Cymru 2022 winners:

Teacher of the Year in a Primary school

Charmaine Riley, Radyr Primary School, Radyr

Outstanding New Teacher

Holly Gordon, Ysgol Bryn Derw ASD Special School, Newport

Inspirational Use of the Welsh Language

Iona Llŷr, Education and Childrens’ Services – Carmarthenshire County Council

Supporting Teachers and Learners

Carolyn Platt, Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay

Youth Work in Schools and the Community

Christian Williams, Heolddu Comprehensive School, Caerphilly

Teacher of the Year in a Secondary school

Mark Morgan, Pen y Dre High School, Merthyr Tydfil

School Business Manager/Bursar

Claire Coakley, St Martin’s School, Caerphilly

Headteacher of the Year

Meurig Jones, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, Maesteg

Pupil (or Pupils’) Award for Best Teacher

Laura Buffee, Haverfordwest High VC School, Haverfordwest

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

The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:

“The calibre of this year’s nominations has, as ever, been outstanding and demonstrates the abundance of teaching talent we have here in Wales. It’s been particularly pleasing to see the first Betty Campbell MBE Award being presented, ahead of the new Curriculum being taught from September.

“There have been so many excellent examples of ingenuity, leadership, kindness and passion for teaching – just some of the many qualities I see when I meet staff at schools across Wales.

“Congratulations to all of the finalists and especially to the winners on your achievements.”

All winners were presented with bespoke, handcrafted Griffith Jones trophies at the ceremony.

To view the full list of finalists and winners, visit: www.gov.wales/teachingawards. Join in the conversation with #TeachingAwardsCymru2022 or follow @WG_Education. You can watch the ceremony from 6pm on the Welsh Government Education Facebook channel.