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‘Quite simply the most
A celebration of all
that you achieve outstanding leader I
Education is in a good way
in this country. Of course
Pete
you would expect us at SecEd
Henshaw
to present you with a leader
Editor,
have ever come across’
column along these lines, as
SecEd
week after week we highlight
the fantastic work that is taking place around the UK.
Edinburgh head Dr Judith McClure
However, this ethos of ours, and of mine personally, is
always heightened at this time of year as the annual roadshow
retires this summer. However, her
of Teaching Awards regional finals take place.
legacy to the education of the city’s
I am a regional judge for the Teaching Awards in London,
judging with fellow educationalists, as I have for the past
children will live on long after she leaves
three years, the sustainable schools award for the region.
St George’s School. Fellow Edinburgh head Alex
However, having always seen the Teaching Awards from
the judging point of view, in the past few days I have had
Wood pays tribute to a ‘selfless’ educationalist
the absolute pleasure of seeing the results of this process, as
I have had the honour of presenting prizes to some of the
THIS SUmmER sees the retiral the body responsible for judicial
winners at this year’s regional finals.
of one of Scotland’s best known training in Scotland.
headteachers, Dr Judith mcClure of Almost uniquely among
I travelled to Canterbury last week to present the
St George’s School in Edinburgh. headteachers in the private sector
Secondary Teacher of the Year award in the South East
One of the most energetic of Scottish in Scotland, Judith has constantly
region, and on Tuesday (June 9) I was in Cardiff presenting educationalists, Judith has led one of turned outwards towards the
the same award in the Wales finals. I am now looking
Scotland’s most prestigious schools comprehensive sector. She has
forward to seeing these winners go for the national prize at
since 1994. played a leading role in SCEN,
Helen mackie, her depute, who the Scotland-China Education
the UK finals in October.
is to succeed Judith as head at St Network, which has championed
The Teaching Awards is a phenomenal and unique
George’s, describes her courage in the teaching of mandarin across
organisation. It heralds great teachers, support staff,
promoting links across the city and Scottish schools.
headteachers and governors, as well as those dedicated to
across the world. Rory macKenzie, headteacher at
CPD, SEN, enterprise, and technology, and even schools as
“She has a tremendous capacity Edinburgh’s Balerno High School,
to bring people together and cut is clear about Judith’s role.
a whole. Nominations can come from anyone – students,
through theory and bureaucracy as He said: “She has been a superb,
teachers, other school staff, parents, governors, and others. she constantly reminds us all of the energetic and extremely effective
It is easy to nominate, and the judging process, unlike
purpose of our involvement with driving force in getting staff and
that undertaken by certain inspectors from a certain other
education, and that is to make things pupils in Scottish schools to realise
organisation, is one of positive celebration.
work better for young people.” the huge potential and value in
Judith mcClure, the daughter forging links with Chinese schools
I love going into schools to judge the award I am involved
of a policeman, was educated at and learning mandarin.
in. I revel in talking to the students and finding out their Newlands Grammar School in “Her boundless and infectious Fond farewells: Dr Judith McClure will retire this summer
passions about sustainable education, and speaking to the
middlesbrough, at the College of enthusiasm, along with her hugely
teachers and staff about their achievements. It is one of the
Law in London, and Sommerville encouraging modus operandi world, but also a reflection of her to be utterly reliable and, while
College in Oxford, where she went has helped to bring on board key her passion in supporting young an impressive strategic thinker, to
duties of my working life I look forward to the most.
on to research and teach. players in schools, universities, people and creating and improving have an astonishing eye for detail.
So please forgive my simple editorial this week. It is not
She entered the teaching local authorities, and Scottish opportunities for all of them, not “She has had the talent for
incensed rhetoric about broken aspects of government policy. profession in 1981 and was government and business who have just in St George’s. spotting talent in others and
No, it is simply to ask you to consider nominating your
successively a teacher, head of helped to consolidate the inclusion Always high on Judith’s agenda empowering and encouraging others
colleagues and staff for a Teaching Award.
department, and assistant head, of mandarin and Chinese culture in has been the development of in the school who are in leadership
before taking over as headteacher of the curriculum in our schools. leadership capacity in schools, and in roles. If you wanted one word for
There is no better celebration and no better honour for the
The Royal School in Bath in 1987. “Judith is a gem,” he adds. her role as chairperson of SELmAS, Judith you could use ‘selfless’.”
winners and the hundreds of people who are commended
She is a member of the Court of She has created a range of she has created a body which is Lady Smith also notes as high
every year. The atmosphere in Canterbury and Cardiff at the
Heriot-Watt University and of the curricular connections with respected for its non-partisan on Judith’s list of attributes her
recent ceremonies was amazing, and the achievements of all
Scottish government Educational comprehensives across Edinburgh, and disinterested commitment to enormous sense of humour.
the winners is humbling.
Department advisory groups on including the joint development of a educational leadership. Judith’s commitment and energy
CPD and on leadership, and she Skills for Work course with Wester Lady Ann Smith, chairperson will be hugely missed in St George’s.
Well done to all the Teaching Awards winners this year,
is chairman of the management Hailes Education Centre (which of the Council of St George’s, sees In the wider educational field, the
and in all of the past 10 years. You have all made a difference Committee of the Scottish Council won a unique Scottish Qualifications Judith as having been “quite simply hope remains that her talents will
in the lives of your students. Nominate today, I urge you
of Independent Schools. Authority award for partnership) the most outstanding leader I have continue to be on offer to the many
– www.teachingawards.com
She is convener of SELmAS, and the joint delivery of a media ever come across”. who have benefited from her work
the Scottish Educational Leadership, studies course with Craigroyston “She combines the ability to rise over the last 15 years. SecEd
management and Administration Community High School. to the pedestal when appropriate
More celebrations!
Society, and a member of the These links are partly to offer yet retain enormous human warmth • Alex Wood is presently seconded
Judicial Studies Committee, her pupils a wider view of the and sensitivity. I have also found as head at Tynecastle High School.
And having just spoken about the importance of celebrating
the excellence of our education professionals, let me put in a
IN rESpONSE…
call for SecEd’s own awards – the Head’s PA of the Year.
Run with the same ethos as the Teaching Awards, this Figures obtained by the year-olds are being asked questions Malcolm Trobe, policy director teachers will tell you that for the
prestigious national title looks to celebrate the fantastic
Conservative party have in science exams that are tests at the Association of School and vast majority of students, double
and overwhelming work of our nation’s PAs. Open to all
revealed that half of England’s of comprehension but require no College Leaders: science is a perfectly sound
comprehensive schools did actual knowledge. “The figures relate to students foundation to study advanced
UK schools, every year we bring upwards of 30 PAs to
not offer separate physics, This trend needs to be reversed, who started their GCSEs in 2006. science at A level or BTEC. To
the national finals and during a celebratory ceremony, over
chemistry and biology GCSEs both to increase opportunity for The entitlement to triple sciences say that students who take double
dinner of course, we highlight the phenomenal work of
last year. individuals and for the future took effect in 2008 so students science aren’t equipped to study
each one, presenting all with special certificates, with highly
prosperity of the country as a starting triple sciences under the sciences at A level is misleading.”
commended and bronze, silver and gold awards given out
Nick Gibb, Conservative whole.” entitlement will not appear in the
shadow schools minister: GCSE results until 2010. There John Cridland, deputy director-
too. What is more, every PA entered gets a certificate of
“It is shocking that there are Sarah McCarthy-Fry, schools are schools which introduced triple general at the Confederation of
nomination if they do not make the finals, recognising their whole areas of England where minister: sciences last year, but these will British Industry (CBI):
headteacher’s nomination.
not a single child has the “The number of pupils taking triple not be reflected in the 2008 figures. “These are very troubling figures
To nominate, all we need is a testimonial from a head or
opportunity to sit separate science science has increased significantly Other schools may be offering and this is no longer just an
senior leader of up to 700 words. Drop me an email if you
GCSEs. since 2007 and we are investing three separate sciences but no educational issue; it’s also an
Without a good understanding £6 million over the next three years student is choosing to take all economic one. It is vital for the
would like the full guidance, or see our website.
of physics, chemistry or biology to double this number. three. At age 14, many young UK’s future success that more
The amazing stories of dedication and commitment to at the age of 16, it is almost It is misleading to suggest people are still deciding what they of our young people become
education that we have heard in the past years of this award
impossible for pupils to get top that pupils who don’t take triple want to do and will keep their scientists and engineers
never fail to astound me. PAs do an amazing and pivotal job
marks in these subjects at A level science are not receiving a strong options open. Taking three sciences The CBI would like to see
and progress to a science degree grounding in physics, chemistry limits the number of other GCSE triple science as the default option
in our schools and deserve all the recognition we can give
at a top university. and biology. subjects they can study. for the brightest students. The
them. Nominate today, I urge you. SecEd
Youngsters in some of Through core and additional It is right that students who government needs to redouble its
the poorest areas are being science, pupils will receive a good excel in science and who want to efforts to encourage students to
denied access to top careers foundation in all three sciences pursue a science-related career take triple science and raise the
• Pete Henshaw is the editor of SecEd. Have your say by in engineering and medical which will set them up for further should be able to access triple number of specialist teachers in
emailing editor@sec-ed.co.uk or see www.sec-ed.co.uk
research, while our brightest 16- study at A level.” science at GCSE. However, most physics and chemistry.”
6 SecEd • June 11 2009
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