PA OF THE YEAR AWARDS Assembly corner
t of the school SecEd
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Inside this issue
ICT in education – the key issues
Published within your edition of SecEd this week is our latest ICT and the Future of Education supplement, which is a report from the second ICT symposium hosted by SecEd and Dell in November. We focus on budgets, outcomes, and learning platforms. The supplement is also available as a digital edition and PDF download from our website at
www.sec-ed.co.uk
BETT 2011: The final countdown
The BETT 2011 Show finally kicks off next week. As such, we take one final look at what this year's show has in store for the thousands of teachers and school leaders who will be attending Pages 10, 11 and 12
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Our schools’ PAs – the dedication and passion of these unsung heroes
by David Taylor
The transformational impact that one headteacher’s PA has had in their school has earned them the title of SecEd’s Headteachers’ PA of the Year 2010. Pamela Zborowski from
Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College in Cheshire becomes the fifth PA to win this prestigious annual award. Pamela joined the school
in 2005, and in her nomination headteacher Sarah Lee described the impact she has had in that short time with staff, students, parents and the community. She told us: “Pamela has utterly
transformed the PA role and has become part of the lifeblood of the school. She has achieved this largely through the warmth and infectiousness of her personality, but also through her dedication and professionalism.” Last year, hundreds of
headteachers submitted nomina- tions for the 2010 awards, which are being supported by UNISON, and a rigorous judging process took place over six weeks to decide the winners. Today we can for the first
time announce the class of 2010 with Pamela leading the way after receiving our Gold Award. Our Silver Award this year goes to Janet Butterworth who works as
Heroes: (from left) The 2010 SecEd Headteacher's PA of the Year Gold winner Pamela Zborowski, Silver winner Janet Butterworth, and Bronze winner Elaine Clayton
PA to Tracey Healy at the Links Education Support Centre, a pupil referral unit (PRU) in St Albans. Janet is the first winning PA to work in a PRU in the award’s history. Ms Healy said: “The workplace
is extremely stressful and manag- ing the staff to cope with this level of stress is a delicate and important role. Janet is exceptional in her rap- port with staff, her ability to listen, be supportive and act as my eyes and ears so I never miss a staff member’s needs.” We travel to Dorset to meet our Bronze Award winner for
2010. Elaine Clayton has worked at Royal Manor Arts College in Portland since 1990, serving three headteachers in that time. Current head Paul Green
described the high respect that all colleagues, students and par- ents have for Elaine, particularly praising her counselling skills and her work as lead trainer for year 9 students who become mediators for their younger peers in the school. Pete Henshaw, editor of SecEd
and chairman of the judging panel, said that the standard among the
nominations was once again incred- ibly high. He continued: “In the past five
years, we have received getting on for 1,000 nominations for this pre- sitigous award. Every year the deci- sion has been so difficult – and this time around was no different. “This is why we always try
to recognise as many finalists as possible – and why we term all of our finalists as winners of the title of PA of the Year. The excellence of Pamela, Janet and Elaine, and of all our finalists is testament to the skills, talent, dedication and
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passion that defines the PAs who work in schools across the UK. Congratulations to all our winners.” Our finalists this year have
also been praised by Christina McAnea, head of education and chidren’s services at award spon- sors UNISON. She said: “Schools increasingly
rely on an effective team of staff to make them successful and welcom- ing places of learning where all tal- ents are recognised. PAs often have a pivotal role in schools particularly as the link between teaching and management and the wide range of professional and support staff. “Reading the letters of recom-
mendation for the finalists, it is clear that the job of a PA in a school is wide and varied, ranging from managing staff to looking after animals and being responsible for budgets as well as the welfare and wellbeing of students. One thing is clear – this is certainly not a dull or mundane job! Many congratula- tions to all the finalists.” The awards this year recognise
14 further PAs from across the UK with seven highly commended win- ners and seven finalist certificates being awarded. Following today’s announce-
ment, certificates will be sent to all our finalists with special presenta- tions taking place at the schools of the top three winners. We shall also be profiling the
top three PAs and the seven high- ly commended winners and their schools over the coming months in SecEd. For full details of the 2010 award winners, see pages 2 and 3.
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2.indd 1 UK news SecEd: On Your Side NQT Diary Psycho babble Union address Managing ICT At the chalkface 01-frontpage .indd 1 “This approach is right at the heart of our school
group rates for local gym and spa membership, and encouraging participation and arranging taster sessions. All of this is an immense help to me in managing all of the contacts I have with students, colleagues, parents and others.” As the clerk to the governing body at Tarporley,
Pamela ensures all members are valued and allowed to fulfil their duties. She is also clerk to the Education Improvement Partnership, liaising with the feeder primary schools, and clerk to the Cheshire West and Chester Headteachers’ Association – a reflection of how her professionalism has been recognised above and beyond our school. Tom Crotty, the school’s chair of governors, said: “It
is brilliant that Pamela has been given this award, and it is so well deserved. “She is an exemplary clerk to the governing
body. She makes sure we are well organised, attends and minutes all our main and sub-committee meetings and does all of this with enthusiasm and good humour. She is a real asset to the school.” Ms Lee said: “It is very difficult to sum up in
words just how much Pamela contributes to the life of Tarporley. From collecting money for school charity events, ensuring the success of the tombola at the Christmas Fair, to spending time listening to an upset colleague on the phone, much of which she does because she always wants the best outcome for the school, not because it is ‘her job’ – because often it isn’t.” One role that no-one could foresee, however, when
Pamela was initially employed was that of the school’s very own “RSPCA officer”, which reflects her love of animals. She has been known to rescue injured birds, has protected birds’ nests and assisted students in
Celebration! (from left) SecEd editor Pete Henshaw with Tarporley students Alexander Ankers, Helena Parker-Clark, Gold winning PA Pamela Zborowski, headteacher Sarah Lee, students Chloe Evans, Harry Huxtable and deputy head Lyndsay Watterson. All the students are in year 10
looking after stray cats found on the school premises. Pamela has also cared for colleagues’ dogs when they are away, and a horse in a nearby field gets extra feed in the winter, thanks to her efforts. Pamela was honoured by staff and pupils during an
assembly following the announcement of her success as SecEd’s Headteacher’s PA of the Year Gold Winner for 2010. She was presented with her award by SecEd editor Pete Henshaw and received cards and champagne from delighted colleagues. She said: “It was all a bit embarrassing – I don’t do
the job for awards and accolades. I just love my work and I’m very lucky.” She said she decided to apply for a job in a school
because it was not so far removed from working for a football club. “The jobs require the same sort of people skills, and footballers can be like big kids really,” she said. “But I also knew it would be different enough to be a challenge. I have never looked back for a minute. The pupils and staff here are fantastic and I am truly blessed to be working in such a wonderful school.” Ms Lee said it would be easy to look upon Pamela
as a “kindly, motherly person” but this was not the whole picture. “She really does have very high expectations of
herself and others, and in a very natural unforced way, she inspires people around her to be the best they can.
Gold Award: Pamela Zborowski, Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College, Cheshire
Silver Award: Janet Butterworth, Links Education Support Centre, St Albans
Bronze Award: Elaine Clayton, Royal Manor Arts College, Dorset
Highly Commended:
Kylie Burgess, Dunraven School, London Nicola Chalkley, Beaminster School, Dorset Christine Chaloner, The Arnewood School, Hampshire Angela Cummings, East Bridgwater Community School, Somerset Angela Garry, Nottingham University Samworth Academy, Nottingham Bernie Holmes, Thomas Alleyne’s High School, Uttoxeter Yvonne Trott,, Hassenbrook School, Essex
Finalists:
Jude Carter, Kingsdown School, Swindon Leslie Chilvers, Brockhill Parkl Performing Arts College, Kent Marie Haughton, Park View Academy, London Lesley Robinson, Whitefield School and Centre, London Brenda Smith, Addington High School, Croydon Wendy Tanner, Chatham Grammar School for Boys, Kent Kath White, Sheffield High School, Sheffield
vision, ‘Excellence through Partnership’. An important part of what we do is to bring the young people from all backgrounds together in a close-knit community of high aspirations. “Pam has really added value in her role because she
is so in tune with this big picture of who and what we are as a school. She seemed to know it as soon as she first stepped through the door.”
SecEd • Dorothy Lepkowska is a freelance education journalist.
“Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection
must finish him.” John Locke (1632-1704), English philosopher
“A quality education has the power to transform societies in a single generation, provide children with the protection they need from the hazards of poverty, labour exploitation and disease, and give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full
potential.” Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), British Actress
“The direction in which education starts a man will
determine his future in life.” Plato (428-348 BC), Greek philosopher
“Instead of a national curriculum for education, what is really needed is an individual curriculum for
every child.” Charles Handy (1932-), Irish author and philosopher
SecEd • February 24 2011
9
JOBS INSIDE
ICT and the Future of Education
A consensus report from SecEd’s latest education symposium
SecEd
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