Wellingborough district school wins prestigious UK award

Staff and pupils at Grendon Primary School are celebrating after they won a significant award.
Left to right: comedian Harry Hill, Dame Alison Peacock, deputy headteacher Charlotte French, headteacher John Wayland, teacher Holly Steed and teacher Lucy Jenkinson.Left to right: comedian Harry Hill, Dame Alison Peacock, deputy headteacher Charlotte French, headteacher John Wayland, teacher Holly Steed and teacher Lucy Jenkinson.
Left to right: comedian Harry Hill, Dame Alison Peacock, deputy headteacher Charlotte French, headteacher John Wayland, teacher Holly Steed and teacher Lucy Jenkinson.

The Wellingborough district school, in the village's Main Road, saw off competition from across the UK to be named Primary School of the Year in the TES Schools Awards 2019.

They were presented with their award by comedian Harry Hill in London on Friday (June 21).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Just after they won headteacher John Wayland said: “It feels amazing. The pupils were so excited this morning when we said we were going to London for the awards ceremony.

Left to right: comedian Harry Hill, Dame Alison Peacock, deputy headteacher Charlotte French, headteacher John Wayland, teacher Holly Steed and teacher Lucy Jenkinson.Left to right: comedian Harry Hill, Dame Alison Peacock, deputy headteacher Charlotte French, headteacher John Wayland, teacher Holly Steed and teacher Lucy Jenkinson.
Left to right: comedian Harry Hill, Dame Alison Peacock, deputy headteacher Charlotte French, headteacher John Wayland, teacher Holly Steed and teacher Lucy Jenkinson.

"They’re going to be ecstatic when they know the school has won."

Judges were impressed by the school's innovative curriculum where pupils are immersed in learning around the central theme of a country, helping them to develop into global citizens.

When learning through the theme of Brazil pupils were so moved by the issue of Amazonian deforestation that they sought action by directly lobbying the Brazilian government and were invited to the Brazilian embassy in London to challenge the minister for climate change.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The school was also recognised for its mentoring programme with a difference, using a scheme run by pupils for pupils.

Headteacher John Wayland picks up the award.Headteacher John Wayland picks up the award.
Headteacher John Wayland picks up the award.

A school spokesman said: "Pupils are given the autonomy to explore their own lines of enquiry and translate the skills they acquire into meaningful actions to create real and significant impact at a local, national and international level."

The programme also sees pupils trained in helping classmates to self-assess, through one-to-one sessions, their emotions, feelings and social, moral and spiritual development.

The TES awards have been running for more than 10 years to recognise the outstanding individuals and institutions that the education sector has to offer. They were judged by a collection of the UK’s most illustrious education experts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

TES editor Ann Mroz said: "The spirit of great teaching really was at the heart of each and every entry and it’s been wonderful to see such amazing ideas and excellent practice emerging from our schools, especially considering the difficult circumstances that many schools operate under.”

Related topics: