A total of 10 educators from North Wales have been announced as finalists for the national teaching awards.

This year, a total of 29 education professionals have made it to the finals of the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru, which celebrates inspiring education professionals across Wales.

Pupils, colleagues, and parents were able to nominate those they felt were deserving, and the nominees have now been shortlisted in ten categories, including ‘Headteacher of the Year’, and ‘Pupils’ Award for Best Teacher’.

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This year sees the introduction of a new category - The Betty Campbell MBE award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities’ - named after Wales’ first black headteacher. This award will recognise an individual, team or school that has demonstrated an outstanding awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom.

The new award has been welcomed by Betty’s daughter, Elaine Clarke, who said: “The Award is a wonderful way to promote inclusion of all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and we are sure the recipients will continue to be inspired and develop future generations in the footsteps of our mother.”

The decision to introduce ‘The Betty Campbell MBE Award’ to the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru was a recommendation by Professor Charlotte Williams OBE, who led a review into the Welsh curriculum last year to recommend how to promote the inclusion of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, histories, contributions and lived experiences in schools.

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Professor Charlotte Williams OBE said: “Diversity is a central and cross cutting theme of the new curriculum. This award will encourage schools to think strategically about how they can embed this important dimension within all that they do’

“The launch of this award is a sure sign that the Welsh Government is responding swiftly to the recommendations of the Ministerial report on diversity in the new curriculum.”

Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “The calibre of this year’s nominations has, as ever, been outstanding. They demonstrate the breadth of inspiring education professionals we have here in Wales and it’s important we recognise that.’

“We have so much good work promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities by schools and educators across Wales, and this is recognised by the new Betty Campbell MBE award.

“I look forward to celebrating these fantastic individuals who go above and beyond for their profession.”

The ten finalists from North Wales with their categories are:

  • Inspirational Use of the Welsh Language - Mari Salisbury, Ysgol Croesi Atti, Flint
  • Outstanding New Teacher - Ifan Tomos Jenkins, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph  
  • School Business Manager/Bursar - Honora Rowlands, Christ the Word Catholic School, Rhyl and Sandra Sant, Hawarden High School, Deeside
  • Supporting Teachers and Learners - Carolyn Platt, Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay and Ysgol Glan Clwyd Support Team, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph
  • Teacher of the Year in a Primary school -  Sean Jones, Ysgol Glan Gele, Abergele
  • Teacher of the Year in a Secondary school - Kate Jones, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph
  • Youth Work in Schools and the Community - Chris Gledhill, Conwy Youth Service, Conwy
  • The Betty Campbell MBE award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities’ - Ysgol Penyffordd, Penyffordd