The winners of the Tes Schools Awards 2024 have been revealed over the course of the biggest awards night in the education calendar
The prestigious awards, now in their 16th year, saw shortlisted teachers and schools from across the country come together for a glittering gala at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. The awards ceremony celebrated the triumph of teachers who have demonstrated outstanding achievements.
Judged by a panel of leading experts, from long serving headteachers to heads of educational organisations, winners were selected for 22 categories and included:
Secondary School of the Year – Burnage Academy for Boys
Best Use of Technology – Paul Bridges, Cantell School
Trust Team of the Year (nine schools and less) – London South East Academies Trust
Trust Team of the Year (10 or more schools) – E-ACT
Burnage Academy for Boys triumphed in a hotly contested category to be named Secondary School of the Year. It has a holistic approach to students’ mental health and a commitment to supporting the local community. The school focuses not only on academic growth but also on the personal development of each individual student.
Dame Christine Gilbert, judge and Chair of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: “Burnage Academy is an inspiring and inclusive school where families are supported well and students thrive, love learning and achieve exceptionally well. Staff are passionate about their work and determined to ensure the boys are the best they can be. Young people leave Burnage Academy ambitious for themselves and their community, with the confidence and skills that enable them to make a real difference in life.”
Paul Bridges was instrumental in Cantell becoming the first school in the country to utilise technology that combined speech to text and translation technology. It allows every teacher in the school to be able to communicate in the first language of non-English speakers. Teachers wear headsets and as the teacher speaks, the speech is translated onto tablets. This means that Cantell’s EAL students can keep up and continue to learn whilst developing their English skills. It also means teachers can provide more effective support and reduces their workload. Paul also introduced technology which helps students with dyslexia read with more fluency.
Paul commented: “To be recognised by Tes for the creativity of our innovative software means a lot to us all. This goes a long way in acknowledging that Cantell School is a great place to learn.”
This year, Tes has introduced two new awards recognising the outstanding achievements of trusts across the UK. London South East Academies Trust won Trust Team of the Year in the nine schools and less category. E-ACT was awarded Trust Team of the Year in the 10 or more schools category.
E-ACT believes every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams and aspirations. They have adopted holistic educational strategies to equip children with the confidence and readiness to learn.
Tom Campbell, CEO at E-ACT, remarked: “We’re really excited to be the first winners of this new Tes Schools Award. It is great to have our fantastic colleagues recognised and celebrated.”
Since its inception, London South East Academies Trust has been transforming schools, improving pupils’ lives, and helping the local community reach its full potential. This year alone, all KS4 leavers across the trust have progressed into sixth form, college, or apprenticeships.
Judge and CEO of REAch2, Sir Steve Lancashire, said: “There’s something about London South East Academies Trust that makes them very distinctive, not least that they’ve taken on some challenging schools – and delivered. Today, they are recognised for being a trust that changes lives and renews hope. But it wasn’t just the impact they’ve had on their schools. It’s the impact of their actions on their community and their response to the community’s needs. I truly felt that every single young person mattered to that Trust and that shines through.”
Rod Williams, CEO of Tes said, “The Tes Schools Awards are a fantastic celebration of the education community, and it’s an honour and a privilege to be able to recognise the impact of the teachers and schools that lives on through the students and their futures that their work inspires. Congratulations to all the winning and shortlisted schools.”
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