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UK Teaching Awards
20/10/2008
Schools Minister Maureen Watt has praised the quality of teachers in Scotland following two Scottish winners at the UK Teaching Awards in London on Sunday evening.
An East Dunbartonshire teacher scooped the Secondary School Teacher of the Year Award. David Miller, an English Teacher at St Ninian's High School, beat off competition from across the country to secure the top award for secondary schools.
The eco-friendly initiatives underway at Shawlands Academy in Glasgow have also been recognised through the Sustainable Schools Award.
This award acknowledges the efforts put in by staff to develop a 'sustainability curriculum', including an international project on active citizenship with partner schools in France, Sweden and Cyprus. Further measures underway include encouraging children to cycle to school, litter collection, tree planting, and a healthy eating reward scheme.
Ms Watt said:
"Scotland has a strong tradition of teaching excellence and this continues through to the present day, with the commitment and enthusiasm of our teachers positively impacting on the development and learning of our young people.
"I would like to congratulate David Miller, whose achievement in winning Secondary Teacher of the Year reflects so well on the educational provision at St Ninian's.
"We are focused on making children more aware of the world around them while encouraging healthier choices. The Sustainable Schools Award is reward for the outstanding work underway at Shawlands Academy.
"These awards are testament not just to St Ninian's and Shawlands, but to schools throughout Scotland. As demonstrated by winning two of eleven categories at the UK awards, Scotland is well positioned to continue to provide our young people with excellent teaching."
The UK Teaching Awards gives awards across eleven categories, with Scotland represented in five. The other Scottish finalists were:
- Kirsten Darling, Foulford Primary School, Fife (within Outstanding New Teacher of the Year)
- Jeff Brown, Moffat Academy, Moffat (within Secondary School Headteacher of the Year)
- Michael Taylor, Dyce Academy, Aberdeen (within Award for Lifetime Achievement)