By Lucy Caulkett-
A teaching assistant has been honoured for her meticulous teaching , after being selected as one of 102 Pearson National Teaching Silver Award winners across the country. Dorota Hall was honoured with a Silver Award in The Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.
Dorota is credited with making a significant difference to the learning of every child at St Edward School in Poole, Dorset through her meticulously planned and engaging literacy lessons. Her patience and determination with students with considerable speech and communication challenges have enabled children to socialize and engage beyond expectations.
Her family history during the Holocaust has also been used as a learning resource for the children, and recorded for future years. Dorota goes beyond the call of duty in helping students and families beyond her role within the department and frequently liaises with students in English and Polish as needed, working closely with Polish families in their first language.
Dorota Hall has now been shortlisted to win one of just 15 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme which will be broadcast on the BBC. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the exceptional school staff who have worked wonders during an incredibly challenging time for educators across the country.
The Silver Award winners, honoured as part of the wider celebrations for ‘Thank a Teacher Day’, a national campaign to honour and recognize school staff for their incredible work. The celebrations follow new data which shows how the previous year’s lockdowns have significantly changed how families across the country view the role of teachers.
Inspirational teachers, leaders, support staff, schools and colleges from across the country have been honoured today for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of their students.
A total of 102 winners have scooped silver awards in the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards. The names have been announced to coincide with national Thank a Teacher day.
The hard work and dedication of teachers in schools, colleges and across the education sector during the pandemic has been inspiring
The silver award winners (full list below) will now be shortlisted to win one of 15 gold awards. The winners of the final will be announced in the autumn on The One Show.
Author Sir Michael Morpurgo, president of the Teaching Awards Trust, said Thank a Teacher Day “gives us all a chance – children, families, all of us – to pay tribute to those wonderful educators who change more lives than they will ever know”.
“Today we say thank you to the teachers who have helped our young people navigate these most difficult of times, and who will continue to inspire countless young minds over the coming years.”
Sharon Hague, senior vice president of schools at Pearson UK, said she wanted to “say thank you to all the incredible school staff who have kept children and young people learning despite unprecedented challenges”.
“We hope the celebrations today show how much you are appreciated, and that your hard work has not gone unnoticed nor unrecognized.”
This year represents a big rise in winners. There were 76 winners last year and 68 in 2019.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said the “hard work and dedication” of teachers during the pandemic had been “inspiring”.
“While our teachers deserve the country’s recognition every year, this year’s Thank A Teacher Day is even more significant.
“The support they have provided children, young people and adults has been remarkable, and each and every one of us should be grateful for the part they have played over the past 18 months.”
Headteacher Michael Antram commented:
“We are delighted that Mrs Hall has been awarded this prestigious title. We have been national finalists in previous teaching awards and strive for excellence in teaching here at St Edward’s, which we see demonstrated every day in the achievements of our students and staff at our school. We are very proud of Mrs Hall’s achievement and all that she brings to the school.”