Our very own Mr Bradley – Head of Music has scooped a national Silver Teaching Award in the category ‘Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School’, supported by SSAT.
He was selected from thousands of nominations and is one of just 65 winners who were celebrated on ‘Thank A Teacher Day’, as the national Pearson Teaching Awards marks its 20th year of celebrating excellence in education.
Students, parents, governors and staff gathered for an assembly to surprise him and hand over his coveted trophy. The heart-warming moment saw a surprised Mr Bradley receive his trophy while the whole school community cheered him on.
Mr Bradley joined the Academy just over three years ago and has transformed the music department. Students have the opportunity to try projects such as Body Percussion, Beat Boxing, Film Music, Samba band and a range of school choirs. He is described as a truly inspirational teacher and a fantastic role model for students.
Mrs Greenough said: “Mr Bradley is a real asset to our school community. He is an outstanding teacher who inspires every student that enters his classroom. His creative approaches to teaching and learning, along with his passion and enthusiasm bring lessons to life. He’s not only totally transformed the music department but is transforming our students’ lives daily. He is a worthy winner of this coveted national award.”
Earlier this month, the Academy of St Francis of Assisi become a Musical Futures Champion School and Mr Bradley became a Musical Futures Champion Teacher. Musical Futures are an international organisation that promote a love of musical learning and work with many young people across the world.
The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.
Mr Bradley will now join fellow Silver Award winners, along with three Scottish Education Award winners and three winners of the Professional Teaching Awards Cymru, at the 20th UK Ceremony of the Pearson Teaching Awards, a glittering ceremony held in central London on 21st October. There they will find out which of them has won one of just 12 Gold Plato Awards, the UK’s “Oscars for Teachers”.
The October ceremony, titled “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.