7,000 to be won for shortlisted schools
1st October 2008The Pallasades Shopping Centre in association with The Birmingham Mail are delighted to launch the Schools Awards and welcome your entries for 2008.
The Schools Awards are designed to recognise the fantastic achievements being made by our schools across the Midlands.
They cover both community and curriculum based projects, as well as individual excellence, and will honour whole schools, classes and individuals. Our aim is to bring greater public awareness to the first class work that is going on in schools right across the West Midlands.
There are eight award categories in total in addition to a School of the Year Award.
A panel, made up of representatives from the Schools Awards sponsors, will judge individually the nominations for each category.
Eventually they will short list three schools/individuals for each award category who will be invited to attend the Schools Awards luncheon ceremony to be held in December.
This prestigious luncheon and awards ceremony will be held at Thinktank, an excellent learning an educational environment for both primary and secondary school children and their families.
The award winners will receive a glass trophy and a bursary towards their school. The runners-up will also receive a small bursary and a certificate.
The award categories are as follows:
PROJECT AWARDS these awards are for projects that are to be carried out within the school, its grounds or the local community. The projects can either be ongoing or an idea for the coming academic year. They can be carried out by a class, year group or even the whole school.
School Newspaper/School Website Award
This award is supported by the Birmingham Mail. Open to all schools that have produced a newspaper/website in 2007/8. To qualify, schools must produce a publication/website that contains relevant news for their audience.
Go Green School Award
This award is supported by Legal and General http://www.legalandgeneral.com/
For this category, the judges will be looking for how the whole school has made or is making changes to become more sustainable.
These might be changes made by the efforts of one class, the whole school or an eco-committee.
We would like to see how you have managed to raise awareness and instigate changes within the school, for example, using poster campaigns, research, setting up eco-committees, class environmental champions, etc.
Areas to be considered are, water and energy conservation, walking buses/transport, recycling, etc.
Healthy Living Award
This award is supported by Thinktank http://www.thinktank.ac/
For a class or whole school who makes it a priority to have healthy lifestyles. This could be by exercising more, drinking more water, eating healthy foods, having an anti-bullying campaign or growing vegetables to use in the kitchen.
We would like to see how you have managed to raise awareness and instigate changes within the school, for example, using poster campaigns, trying anew activity/food session, water being readily available throughout the day, setting up buddy systems, etc.
Sporting Initiative award
This award is supported by Kingsmill Midlands Region Bakery http://www.kingsmillbread.com/
This award will be presented to a school that can demonstrate how it attracts its pupils to get involved in sporting activities. This could be setting up a new sports club, encouraging/moulding school kids to be potential sports stars or even providing the means for children to take part in more hours of sport and exercise.
Individual Awards these awards recognise the individuals within schools who have really made a difference to the pupils.
This may be inspirational teachers who make learning exciting and relevant. They may be classroom assistants, support or admin staff or caretakers who make a difference to the children and their school through their enthusiasm and commitment. Or maybe it is a Head teacher, whose guidance and leadership has helped create a dynamic learning environment where the pupils are happy and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Inspirational Primary Teacher
This award is supported by Drayton Manor Theme Park http://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/
For a teacher in a nursery, first or primary school that goes the extra mile to give children the best start in their education.
Inspirational Secondary Teacher
For a teacher in a middle, high or secondary school who goes above and beyond the call of duty to get the best out of their children, regardless of ability.
Head teacher of the Year
This award is supported by Print Design Team
For an outstanding school leader, whose guidance and leadership has helped create a dynamic learning environment, where the pupils are happy and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Caretaker/School Support Staff/Lunchtime Supervisor of the Year
This award is for a caretaker whose dedication makes them an invaluable member of the school community. Or maybe a teaching assistant or any other member of support or administrative staff who makes a real difference to individual children, classes or the whole school. Perhaps you would like to nominate your childs lunchtime supervisor who has been instrumental in their schooldays.
Nominations can come from schools, parents, staff, local community members, governors, etc.
To make a nomination for any of the categories download and complete the form on www.birminghammail.et/schoolsawards, then email to becky_wilson@mrn.co.uk stating Schools Awards nomination in the subject line.
Closing date for entries is Tuesday November 11 2008.
ENTRY RULES
The competition is open to all schools, their staff and pupils across the Midlands region.
Standard Birmingham mail competition rules apply.
Project Award entries should be completed by pupils who have been involved in the project.
If entering more than one category, these should be on separate entry forms with separate additional supporting material. Each category has a separate judging panel and the judges decision is final.
Finalists of the project awards will be required to give a short presentation at the awards ceremony.
Shortlists for each category will be announced in the Birmingham Mail and the winners will be announced at a special Awards ceremony and luncheon during December.
PRIZES
PROJECT AWARDS
- 1,000 bursary to put towards the winning project and a special trophy will be awarded to the winner of each category.
- 250 bursary to put towards the entered project will be awarded to two runners up in each category.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- 250 for the school and a special trophy will be awarded to the winner of each category.
- 100 for the school will be awarded to two runners up in each category.