Suffolk Education Awards: Recognising teachers, TAs and support staff

Here we find out more about the Teacher of the Year category, sponsored by Teach, and the Teaching Assistant or Support Staff of the Year category, and find out why Suffolk’s best education staff should take the time to enter these awards.

Teacher of the Year
Sponsored by Teach

This award is open to all educators from early years to higher education and the judges will be looking for teachers who demonstrate their passion, enthusiasm, dedication and energy towards creating happy and successful learning environments while nurturing the physical and emotional wellbeing of their students.

Phil King, director at Teach and judge for the Teacher of the Year award (Image: Teach.AC)

Phil King, director at Teach

Why should teachers, schools or education establishments take the time to enter this award?

Everybody working within the education community works so hard, and this is a great opportunity to recognise hard work and dedication.

The Suffolk Education Awards will shine a light on the talented staff within your school and recognise the way they go above and beyond to provide the children with much more than an education.

Why do we need these awards?

After the last few years of much change to routines within the education sector due to Covid, we all witnessed the hard work of education professionals juggling online learning and class-based lessons.

It’s time to say thank you, to recognise those educating the next generation.

What are the qualities of a good teacher?

A good teacher has to be patient at the same time as being kind, supportive and empathetic for their students and colleagues. They will make lasting impressions on those they teach or work alongside, while working with parents to promote collaborative learning.

Did you have any teachers who would have deserved this award?

It’s very hard to say one teacher who would have deserved this award. I had some great teachers that made school a positive and engaging experience and who always went the extra mile to be supportive.

The team at Teach, which is sponsoring the Teacher of the Year award (Image: Teach.AC)

Teaching Assistant or Support Staff of the Year

The Teaching Assistant or Support Staff of the Year award is open to all non teaching staff who work within an educational establishment, from teaching assistants to lunchtime supervisors and more.

The award will go to a school assistant who provides outstanding support to students and fellow staff members both inside and outside the classroom.

The judges will be looking for evidence of entrants’ contribution towards supporting children and colleagues and their overall assistance in pupils’ learning and social development. Entrants should demonstrate an understanding of best practices and the impact of their work in the wider school.

The judging will focus on four key areas, including the entrant’s impact on students and the rapport built with them, as well as the support given to teachers, peers and the broader school community. Entrants should also provide evidence of how they have understood and implemented best practices in the classroom and innovated in their support work.

As well as assisting inside the classroom, the winner will also show how they have supported students’ social and emotional development.

To enter or make a nomination for either the Teacher of the Year or Teaching Assistant or Support Staff of the Year category, or to find out about the other categories, please visit suffolkeduawards.co.uk

It only takes two minutes to complete the nomination form and nominations can be made by colleagues, peers, students, parents, guardians or individuals and education establishments themselves.

The deadline for entries is Sunday, August 6, and all of the finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony on Thursday, November 9 at Venue 16 in Ipswich.