Inspirational London teacher honoured in UK celebration of teaching

 Raynes Park High School teacher wins Silver Award in The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School 

Selected from thousands of nominations, Richard Harris is one of just 76 Silver Award winners across the country. Richard Harris was honoured with a Silver Award in The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.

Richard Harris uses technology to inspire and assess his students in equal measure. Aside from his work in the classroom, Richard has represented Kent as a 5K runner, won the British National Jujitsu title, coached for Fulham Football Club and featured in publications as a star teacher for the most prestigious educational academy in South Korea.

 

Richard Harris is now in the running for one of just 14 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 Pearson National Teaching Awards is 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 work with. This year marks its 22^nd year of celebrating, award-winning teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers and lecturers across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said:  

“Over the past year, we have, all of us, come to appreciate and respect the value of teachers. They have so often been taken for granted. Not any more. Parents know now what it takes to teach, and teach well, and how much commitment, dedication and enthusiasm and knowledge and understanding, yes – and patience.

“Children know it too, if they didn’t before. So many missed their teachers as well as their friends. We all honour them today. Let’s now praise them, wish them well and above all, thank them.”

Rod Bristow, President of Pearson UK, said:

“Congratulations to all of our Silver Award winners for their commitment, dedication and passion for their work. Despite the incredible challenges they have faced over the past few months, school staff have risen to the occasion time and again.

“It is so important to recognise and celebrate teachers, teaching assistants and lecturers for the impact they have on our young people every year, and that is why Pearson is delighted to support these Awards.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“My warmest congratulations go to all this year’s silver award winners. They should be proud to receive this recognition of their commitment to the profession, and the outstanding education and guidance they provide for their students.

“Teachers and school staff up and down the country consistently go above and beyond for their students, and this is especially true over the past few months. It is down to their hard work that schools have been able to open their gates to all pupils again for the start of the new term, and I cannot say thank you enough for everything they have done.”

 

The 2020 Pearson National Teaching Award Categories are:

 

The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education	The Award for FE Lecturer of the Year
The Award for FE Team of the Year	The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School
The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School	The Award for Digital Innovator of the Year
The Award for Making a Difference - Secondary School of the Year, supported by Future First	The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School
The Award for Making a Difference - Primary School of the Year, supported by Future First	The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School, supported by Randstad
The Award for Lifetime Achievement supported  by DfE	The Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year
The Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year supported by DfE	The Award for Impact through Partnership