Glasgow education stars sought for national awards

Nominations now open for Scottish Education Awards 2017

The search for Glasgow's brightest education stars is underway as nominations are open for the Scottish Education Awards 2017.

People are being urged to nominate the local schools and teaching professionals that go the extra mile for recognition at the national awards ceremony which honours the hard work and innovation happening in classrooms across Scotland.

Two Glasgow schools and two teachers took home prestigious awards at last year's glittering ceremony.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning at Glasgow City Council said: "Our schools, staff and young people are incredible and they deserve to be recognised for the wonderful work they do in schools across the city. 

"I would urge as many people as possible to look at the various categories in the awards as I know that they will know someone to nominate or a school who is excelling in a specialist field that is taking learning to a new level.

"Glasgow schools and school staff are always very well represented at the Scottish Education Awards and I do hope that this year is no different - there are so many deserving nominees and winners!"

John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said: "There is great strength in Scottish education, with teachers, parents, pupils and community partners working hard to ensure that all children and young people have equal chances to reach their full potential. 

"I am therefore delighted to launch the Scottish Education Awards 2017, which help us showcase and celebrate this important work that is happening across the country."

There is a wide variety of award categories which recognise and reward the dedication of teaching staff and educational supporters across Scotland. Entry is open to all publicly funded schools including primary, secondary, nursery and special schools.

Nominations close on the 15th February 2017 and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Glasgow next June.

To nominate a school or individual for the awards, and for more information on the categories, please visit here

The 17 categories at this year's Scottish Education Awards are:

· Health and Wellbeing Award - recognises establishments that are developing a holistic approach to health and wellbeing of children and young people.

· Creative Learning Award (sponsored by Creative Scotland) - recognises the achievements of establishments which promote creativity for pupils and staff.

· Educational Supporter of the Year Award - recognises those within the establishment setting that support children, young people, staff and the life of the school and wider community.

· Teacher of the Year Award (sponsored by Voice the Union) - recognises teachers who are bringing learning to life by engaging and inspiring all children and young people to fulfil their potential.

· Headteacher of the Year Award (sponsored by Education Scotland) - recognises headteachers who provide inspirational leadership, who motivate and involve staff, children and young people across the whole school.

· Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Education Scotland) - open to all qualified teachers and headteachers approaching the end of their careers, and aims to recognise their work in providing leadership and commitment for colleagues, the establishment and the wider community throughout their education career.

· Parents as Partners in Learning Award - recognises the important role that parents play in education, in establishments, in their local area, nationally and in individual children's learning.

· Gaelic Education Award (Sponsored by Bord Na Gaidhlig)- recognises establishments who are providing opportunities for all children to develop fluency in the Gaelic language and culture.

· Transforming Lives Through Partnerships Award - recognises establishments who have transformed the life chances for young people through effective partnership working.

· Learning for Sustainability Award (sponsored by Caledonia Play) - recognises the achievements of establishments who have made connections between the different aspects of learning for sustainability and embedded these across the four contexts for learning.

· Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Maths Award (sponsored by BAE systems) - recognises the establishments who are helping children and young people develop STEM skills and apply these across the four contexts for learning.

· Making Languages Come Alive Award - recognises establishments who are working effectively to implement the 1+2 policy for language learning.

· Raising Attainment in Literacy Award - recognises establishments who are developing an innovative whole school approach to literacy learning for children and young people.

· Raising Attainment in Numeracy Award - recognises establishments who are developing an innovative whole school approach to numeracy learning for children and young people.

· Enterprise and Employability Across Learning Award (Primary and early years) - recognises the establishments who are developing children's skills for learning, life and work across learning and engaging with businesses and industry to develop children's understanding of the world of work.

· Enterprise and Employability Across Learning Award (Secondary) (sponsored by SQA) - recognises the establishments who are developing children's skills for learning, life and work across learning and engaging with businesses and industry to develop children's understanding of the world of work.

· Learning Through Technology Award (sponsored by XMA) - recognises establishments who are innovative in their use of technology and maximise the potential of information, communications and other technologies.