Sec Ed 15April 2010

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Editorial advisory panel

Paul Ainsworth, Deputy

headteacher, Belvoir High School, Leicestershire. Mark

Blois, Browne Jacobson. Hilary

Moriarty, National director, Boarding Schools’ Association.

Neill Morton, Headteacher,

Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. Jo Smith, Deputy headteacher, Long Field School, Melton Mowbray.

Tina Stockman, Teacher, Harlaw Academy, Aberdeen. Ray Tarleton,

Headteacher, South Dartmoor Community College, Devon. Dr

Bernard Trafford, Headteacher,

The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne. Simon Viccars, Headteacher, Leon School and Sports College, Milton Keynes.

Alex Wood, Headteacher, Wester

Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh

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National awards mark the Diploma pioneers

by Chris Parr

Nominees from across the country descended on the Landmark Hotel in London last month for the inaugural National Delivering Diplomas Awards. The 22 finalists – who came

from Diploma consortia as far north as Newcastle and as far south as Plymouth – were invited to attend the glitzy ceremony, where the five overall winners were unveiled. The awards, which were run

by SecEd’s sister title Delivering Diplomas, and supported by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency, were divided into five categories: Consortium; Teacher or Lecturer; Student; Employer; and Exams Officer. Parag Bhatt, a year 11 engineer-

ing Diploma student at Downend School in South Gloucestershire – part of the Kingswood Partnership – said he was “amazed” to be named the first ever Delivering Diplomas Student of the Year. “I didn’t think I had a chance

– I was totally surprised to even get nominated,” he told us. “I found out I was nominated

when the assistant head came into my IT Functional Skills class and asked me to leave the lesson for five minutes with him. I thought I’d

done something wrong – I thought I was in trouble. “But he showed me the email

saying I’d been invited to the final, and I went back into the class and yelled ‘look where I am going!’ to everyone. I really didn’t think it would get any better, and that I could actually win.” Parag achieved a grade A in his

first Principal Learning unit and is on course to achieve A or B grades in the remaining units. He is an English as an additional language student who has repeatedly been commended by his teachers for his effort and application, and thrived on his work experience at Airbus – to the extent that he organised a second placement at Rolls Royce. Meanwhile, the winning

Delivering Diplomas Teacher or Lecturer of the Year was Amanda Gowland from Whickham School and Sports College in Gateshead. Amanda led the way through

the Gateway for the Society Health and Development Diploma, and has recruited 30 students in years 10 and 11. Her hard work on engaging

employers and ensuring that the stu- dents get the most out of their work placements has seen previously dis- affected students engaged in high level research and assignments. She also frequently hosts visits from

universities and other schools and colleges to share her best practice. Accepting her award, Amanda

said: “I don’t see this as just an award for me, but one for the whole consortium. So many people were mentioned in my nomination, and without all of their help, I certainly wouldn’t be stood up here today.” The winning exams officer

was Naielah Sayed, who works at Eastlea School in east London. Naielah took it upon herself to

create files of advice and guid- ance for her consortium colleagues, which have become essential read- ing for all exam officers in the partnership. A second manual, dubbed the

Diplomas Idiot’s Guide, is an in- depth document breaking down the steps involved in setting up the Diploma structure for exam officers in their own centres. After picking up the award,

Naielah said: “Wow! When I found out I was in the top four, I was amazed, and then to get a phone call saying I was in the final was even more amazing. And to win is unbe- lievable. It’s not often exams offic- ers get this kind of recognition.” In the employer category, the

top prize was taken by John Short, marketing director of Harlow Printing, which works with the South Tyneside Consortium for IT.

He was nominated by Karen

Nixon, head of ICT at St Joseph’s Comprehensive School, and lead teacher for the consortium, who described how John had welcomed the Diplomas and promoted their benefits from the outset, offering students general advice and guid- ance and giving them the opportu- nity to go into the workplace and see the technology in action. John said: “I am shocked. Lost

for words. I just hope I can take my experiences from today back to Tyneside and use them to further the Diploma, and encourage more people to get involved.” The final category, Consortium

of the Year, was won by the North Somerset 14 to 19 Partnership, which also boasted four individual nominees across the categories. Paul Jacobs, assistant director

for learning and achievement at North Somerset local authority, picked up the award on behalf of the consortium. He said: “In 30 years of working in education, this is the best thing I’ve been involved in, and the Diplomas are one of the best developments and innovations that we have ever seen in secondary education.” For more information and pho-

tos from the ceremony, visit www. deliveringdiplomas.com

The 2010 Delivering Diplomas winners

Consortium of the Year

North Somerset 14 to 19 Partnership

Runners-up:

The Kingswood Partnership, South Gloucestershire City of Plymouth Diploma Partnership East Cheshire Partnership Diploma Consortium North Tyneside 14 to 19 Diploma Consortium

Teacher or Lecturer of the Year

Amanda Gowland, Whickham School and Sports College, Gateshead

Runners-up:

Val Wigham, Kenton School, Newcastle Jack McNulty, Ringwood School, Hampshire Mark Curtis, Backwell School, North Somerset

Student of the Year

Parag Bhatt, Downend School, South Gloucestershire

Runners-up:

Henry Keet, Steyning Grammar School, West Sussex Jessica Welsh, South Kent College, Kent Callum Grayson, Broadoak Maths and Computing College, North Somerset Daryl Tebug, Broadoak Maths and Computing College, North Somerset

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ISSN 1479-7704

Employer of the Year

John Short, marketng director of Harlow Printing (South Tyneside Consortium for IT)

Runners-up:

Marion Thomas, Jaguar Landrover Education Business Centre (Knowsley 14 to 19 Collegiate). Wates Group Ltd (Croydon CBE Borough Wide Consortium) Katie Laidlaw, The National Trust (North Somerset 14 to 19 Partnership)

Pioneers: (clockwise from top left) North Somerset celebrates the Consortium of the Year award; Diploma employer champion and chairman of GMTV Clive Jones presents John Short with the employer award; Student of the year Parag Bhatt receives his award from the QCDA’s Alan Clamp; Amanda Gowland receives the teacher award from Mr Clamp; winning exams officer Naielah Sayed speaks after receiving her award

2

Exam Officer of the Year

Naielah Sayed, Eastlea School, London

Runners-up:

Fi Taylor, Sussex Downs College Mike Swann, Huntingdonshire Regional College, Cambridgeshire Ceinwen Evans, Marches School and Technology College, Shropshire

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SecEd • April 15 2010

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