Celebrate our teachers!

Inspirational teaching at Jewish schools across the UK will be celebrated for a second time at an awards ceremony in January, in a joint initiative between Jewish News and Partnerships for Jewish Schools (PaJeS).

Last year’s inaugural event saw teachers recognised in four categories, and organisers confirmed this week that the 2017 awards would feature four more, covering both primary and secondary education.

“The new categories of awards will let us recognise as much good practice in our schools as possible,” said PaJeS executive director Rabbi David Meyer. “We look forward once again to highlighting the successes and achievements of our community’s schools.”

Meyer said the awards were “an opportunity to recognise the exceptional efforts of the teachers and staff in our schools” because “it is thanks to their dedication that our schools are effectively educating the next generation of our community”.

Last year’s event, sponsored by the Emmes Foundation, showcased the top talent from 120 Jewish schools, with awards for innovation in secular and Jewish studies, use of information and communications technology, and inspirational leadership.

This year’s awards will be for Best Emerging Teachers, in their first three years of teaching; Modern Hebrew; Special Needs Education and Assistant or Deputy Headteachers – a vital yet often-unrecognised role.

All awards will be at both primary and secondary level and the judges include Meyer and his predecessor, Alastair Falk; scientist Lord Robert Winston; Sue Williamson, chief executive of the Schools, Students and Teachers Network; Karen Harris, managing director of Intu.co.uk and Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer.

Launching the second awards this week, Ferrer said: “Behind every good student is a good teacher, someone dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation. Our community celebrates its outstanding students every year through consistently-impressive exam results. We’re thrilled to be working with Partnerships for Jewish Schools again, to pay tribute to talented educators across the country.”

The Emmes Foundation said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this exciting initiative for Jewish schools, which recognises the hard work and sacrifice of our teachers

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