Top teachers honoured at Jewish Schools Awards

Britain’s outstanding Jewish teachers were honoured on Wednesday evening at the Jewish Schools Awards.

Now in its third year, the joint initiative between Jewish News and Partnerships for Schools (PaJeS) celebrates excellence in teaching, as well as highlighting the contributions of “unsung heroes” among non-teaching staff.

The awards, sponsored by the Emmes Foundation, also recognised “mental health and wellbeing champions” in schools, who have provided “exceptional pastoral support”.

Rabbi David Wilk, of North London Jewish Day School (primary) and Danny Baigel of Immanuel College (secondary) received honours for excellence in Jewish studies.

Meanwhile Daniel Sunshine, assistant headteacher at Menorah Foundation School (primary) and Lelanie Grobler, head of psychology at JFS, (secondary) were honoured for excellence in secular studies.

Moses Kirosingh, caretaker at Eden Primary and Joanne Bernard, personal assistant to the headteacher at Yavneh College (secondary) were named as the winners of the award for “exceptional contribution from non-teaching school staff”.

For pastoral support, Anna Livoti of Wolfson Hillel (primary) and Amit Singh Kalley of Hasmonean High School for Boys (secondary) were named recipients of the mental health and wellbeing champion award. A lifetime achievement award was presented to philanthropist Joshua Rowe, chair of governors at King David School in Manchester.

Introducing Joshua Rowe on stage, PaJeS Chair Sarah Anticoni reached for the superlatives to describe his achievements, and warmly recounted his impressive knowledge of “each pupil, parent and their siblings.”

Collecting his Award, Joshua Rowe said he felt “truly honoured” and paid tribute to the teachers in the room. “Teaching is the noblest of professions. Teachers shape generations and no one ever forgets a great teacher,” he said.

“If I had my time again, I’d be a teacher- if I was good enough!”

The winners for each category received £5,000, while runners-up received £1,000, to spend on new projects and initiatives at their respective schools, courtesy of the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust.

Rabbi David Meyer of PaJeS said: “This year we were overwhelmed by the number of nominations received. Mazeltov to our worthy finalists.

“I would like to thank all the headteachers and staff- it is genuinely a pleasure to work with all of you. Your dedication and determination to see our children succeed is nothing less than inspiring.”

Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer added: “All the teachers who made the shortlist for an award are a credit to our community. They are the reason that Jewish parents are increasingly confident about choosing a religious education for their children. Jewish News is extremely proud to partner on this initiative once again and we look forward to doing so again.”

The winners were selected by a panel of judges, including author and teaching consultant John West-Burnham, Maurice Wohl charitable Foundation chief executive Kate Goldberg, consultant paediatrician Dr Michael Markiewicz, businessman and vice-chair of the Portland Trust Sir Harry Solomon and Jewish News’ features editor Francine Wolfisz.

The audience also heard from Rabbi Dr Eli Kohn, who movingly described the creation of a “more effective, cohesive and engaging” Chumash curriculum with four colleagues. Their new curriculum has now reached nearly 10,000 Jewish students, including 7,000 pupils from 23 schools in the UK and 1,500 pupils in Australia.

Simon Johnson, Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “It was an honour to host the Jewish School Awards. It clearly meant a lot to those nominated as there was deserved pride in their achievements. They are a wonderful celebration of the excellence in our Jewish schools.”

“I would like to thank all the headteachers and staff- it is genuinely a pleasure to work with all of you. Your dedication and determination to see our children succeed is nothing less than inspiring.”

Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer added: “All the teachers who made the shortlist for an award are a credit to our community. They are the reason that Jewish parents are increasingly confident about choosing a religious education for their children. Jewish News is extremely proud to partner on this initiative and we look forward to doing so again.”

The winners were selected by a panel of judges, including author and teaching consultant John West-Burnham, Maurice Wohl charitable Foundation chief executive Kate Goldberg, consultant

paediatrician Dr Michael Markiewicz, businessman and vice-chair of the Portland Trust Sir Harry Solomon and Jewish News’ features editor Francine Wolfisz.

The audience also heard from Rabbi Dr Eli Kohn, who movingly described the creation of a “more effective, cohesive and engaging” Chumash curriculum with four colleagues. Their new curriculum has now reached nearly 10,000 Jewish students, including 7,000 pupils from 23 schools in the UK and 1,500 pupils in Australia.

Simon Johnson, Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council and the awards host, said: “The Jewish School Awards clearly means a lot to those nominated as there was deserved pride in their achievements. They are a wonderful celebration of the excellence in our Jewish schools.”