Church schools celebrate national success in second year of awards
Two schools from the East Midlands are celebrating their successas National winners of the second Church School Awards.
Queniborough Church of England Primary School fromLeicestershire and the National Church of England Academy inNottingham have been picked from a pool of 10 regional winners, tobe recognised for the significant difference they have made tolocal and global communities.
The awards were announced at a gala event at Methodist ChurchHouse on 28 June, hosted by comedian and presenter, KirstenO'Brien.
The Church School Awards celebrate the best examples of localcommunity work and global citizenship in England, Northern Irelandand Wales. Pupils, staff and parents from the national andregional winners all impressed the judges with their passion forcommunity issues, like the environment, Fairtrade and localfundraising, as well as their active involvement in worldwideinitiatives, encouraging respect for different cultures and a senseof justice.
Liam Dowds, Managing Director of Emmaus Recruitment, whoestablished the Church School Awards, said:
"We are delighted to congratulate the regional and nationalwinners of this year's Church School Awards on their amazing work.These schools have demonstrated a real commitment to respecting andsupporting other young people around the world as well as in theirown local community and have also made a lasting impact on thelives and experiences of their pupils."
Nicola Sylvester, Head of School Effectiveness & DeputyGeneral Secretary at the National Society said:
"The Church School Awards are a unique way of recognising thework that Church schools can demonstrate their distinctivenessand effectiveness as Christian organisations..
The awards are an opportunity to illustrate howwell through their distinctive Christian character andvalues Church schools ensure the development and achievementof thewholechild or young person; and, meets the needs of alllearners. Furthermore, it documents the impact of Church schoolprovision not just on the school community, but the wider communityin which the schools reside."
Lisa Nolan, Education Development and Improvement Officer at theMethodist Church, said:
"We're really delighted that there are two Methodist schoolsamong those awarded and commended today, especially as the standardhas been so high. Our schools often work in the most deprived areasand at the heart of Methodism is a passion for supporting childrenand families in their communities. We believe that every child hasa right to a bright future, with the best possible opportunities,regardless of where they come from."
The awards were established by a partnership between Christianrecruitment agency, Emmaus Recruitment, along with the Church ofEngland's National Society, the Catholic Association of Teachers,Schools and Colleges, Methodist Education, aid and developmentorganisations like CAFOD and Christian Aid, and many othersupporters.
For more information about the national and regional winners, aswell as the awards themselves, please go to
Regional winners were:
London and SE Primary - Parish Church CE Junior School, Croydon(Diocese of Croydon)
London and SE Secondary - Kent College, Canterbury (MethodistIndependent Schools)
NW and Northern Ireland Primary- St Comgall's Catholic PrimarySchool, Bangor, County Down (Diocese of Down and Connor)
NW and Northern Ireland Secondary - Trinity CE School, Carlisle(Diocese of Carlisle)
NE and East Anglia Primary- Wilberfoss CE VA Primary School, York(Diocese of York)
NE and East Anglia Secondary - Notre Dame High School, Norwich(Diocese of East Anglia)
Midlands Primary- Queniborough CE Primary School, Leicestershire(Diocese of Leicester)
Midlands Secondary - The National Church of England Academy,Nottingham (Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham)
SW and Wales Primary- Durweston CE VA Primary School, Dorset(Diocese of Salisbury)
SW and Wales Secondary - Corpus Christi Catholic High School,Cardiff (Archdiocese of Cardiff)
The following schools received Special Commendations:
St John Houghton Catholic School (Midlands Secondary)
St Andrew's CE/Methodist (Aided) Primary School (MidlandsPrimary)
St John Fisher Catholic High School (NE and East AngliaSecondary)