Nearly 3,000 years of dedication celebrated across Nene Education Trust
The past few weeks have seen a very special project come to fruition as Nene Education Trust celebrated the remarkable service and dedication of colleagues across its eight schools and central team.
The initiative, led by Amy Bradshaw on behalf of Interim CEO Matt Coleman, took almost ten months to complete. The project involved gathering, checking and rechecking records to ensure that every member of staff received the recognition they deserved for their contribution to the Trust and its communities.
Service awards ranged from five years to an incredible 37 years, highlighting the commitment of staff who have dedicated much of their professional lives to supporting children and families across the Trust.
To mark the occasion, Matt Coleman, Interim CEO, together with School Improvement Partners Karen Stevenson and Amy Bradshaw, visited every school and the central team offices to personally present certificates, badges and words of thanks to colleagues.
During the presentations, pupils were astonished to learn the scale of commitment represented across the organisation. Amy Bradshaw explained that, collectively, employees across the eight schools and central team have amassed nearly 3,000 years of service.
The announcement was met with gasps of disbelief from assembled pupils, followed by even greater amazement when they learned that some members of staff had been working in their schools for longer than many of the children had been alive.
Mrs Bradshaw said:
“It is not unusual for children to receive certificates and recognition for their hard work and achievements, but opportunities to celebrate the adults who support them are often less frequent.
These awards recognise a huge range of colleagues, including teachers, teaching assistants, administrative staff, site teams, catering teams and central team colleagues. Every one of them plays an important role in helping our children succeed.”
Matt Coleman reflected on the lasting impact colleagues have had across generations of pupils.
“Every single person being recognised has contributed to the education and wellbeing of children in our schools over many, many years.
In some cases, the children they taught or supported have now grown up and have children of their own attending our schools. For some colleagues, they have even seen the next generation become grandparents.
It cannot be overstated how valuable the contribution of every member of staff is to the success of our schools, both today and in the future.”
As certificates and badges were presented, the celebrations were accompanied by enthusiastic applause, cheers and whoops from pupils, demonstrating the affection, pride and appreciation they have for the people who make a difference in their schools every day.
The long-service recognition programme has provided an opportunity not only to celebrate individual milestones but also to acknowledge the collective commitment, loyalty and expertise that have helped shape generations of children across Nene Education Trust.
Nearly 3,000 years of service is a remarkable achievement – and one that reflects the dedication, care and community spirit at the heart of every Nene Education Trust school.