My ENTHUSE Celebration Award journey began with an email calling for teachers and technicians to nominate themselves. Skimming the criteria I saw that I did in fact meet the requirements, despite being an ‘ordinary’ teacher!
I set about drafting an application form and collecting evidence, mainly based on implementing ‘Science through Stories’ ideas I had gathered on a residential course at the National STEM Learning Centre with the wonderful Jane Winter.
This in itself proved to be a very enlightening experience, as we as teachers are always so busy ‘doing’ and ‘getting on’ that we don’t pause to look from the outside at what impact we have actually had and how much we have achieved.
Once the nomination had been sent off I completely forgot about it, until a short while later when I was very surprised to receive an email letting me know I had been shortlisted and was invited to an awards ceremony in London.
A few weeks later with Karen, my previous phase leader, mentor and friend in tow, I was off to London for what I expect was one of the most glamourous experiences I will ever have!
After first meeting and chatting with the other nominees, we were led into a beautifully set out reception room where us ‘ordinary’ folk were rubbing shoulders with some of the big names in science education. Having first been intimidated to see I was to sit next to Brian Cartwright, the then lead science inspector for The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, I soon relaxed once dinner started and everyone began chatting and sharing stories.
Following dinner there were inspirational keynote speeches and the awards were given out. To this day I still can’t believe my name was read out and, being so sure I was just another ‘ordinary’ teacher, I was totally unprepared for what came next! After accepting the award and saying a few words, I was whisked away for photos and congratulations. The rest of the evening is all a bit of a blur, but the experience is one I will remember for the rest of my life!
"Something has become very evident to me since winning this award - there is no such thing as an ‘ordinary’ teacher; we are making huge impacts on pupils and colleagues every day, and it is wonderful that the National STEM Learning Centre is acknowledging and celebrating this."
The impact of winning the award on myself has been huge; it has given me the confidence to know that what I have to share with others is of value, and in the time since winning I have delivered CPD sessions for the National STEM Learning Centre, the ASE and my local authority. I have also become a PGCE tutor at the University of Leeds in the area of Early Years Science, which I have undertaken alongside my work as a classroom teacher.
In my own school, we have successfully achieved the Primary Science Quality Mark Silver Award and have plans to go for Gold next year. Most recently, I am very honoured to have become a Primary Science Teacher Trust Fellow, and won their Primary Science Teacher of the Year award. This could not have happened without the confidence I gained and the support and opportunities I became aware of through winning the ENTHUSE Celebration Awards.
"To this day I still can’t believe my name was read out and, being so sure I was just another ‘ordinary’ teacher, I was totally unprepared for what came next!"
I have also been lucky enough to meet a wide variety of different people, very ‘ordinary’ like me, but all working tirelessly to improve science education for young people. I feel I have become part of a wonderful community of supportive and passionate individuals that I wasn’t aware existed before.
Something has become very evident to me since winning this award - there is no such thing as an ‘ordinary’ teacher; we are making huge impacts on pupils and colleagues every day, and it is wonderful that the National STEM Learning Centre is acknowledging and celebrating this.
I would wholeheartedly recommend nominating yourself or another colleague for this award, no matter how ‘ordinary’ you may think you are!
Share your STEM stories
As the academic year draws to a close, we want to celebrate all of the amazing things that have been achieved this year. If you have an inspiring STEM story that you want to share, contact us or join in the conversation on Twitter, @STEMLearningUK #STEMStories17.