TWO decades of success in sponsoring outstanding schools and raising standards in education have been celebrated at the first colleague conference of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation.

 

Staff spoke of their pride and honour at being part of an organisation that has developed four highly regarded schools in the North of England.

 

The conference, held at The Sage Gateshead, brought together 800 staff and guests for a day of inspirational presentations, entertaining performances by students and awards for exceptional colleagues.

 

Sir Peter Vardy, founder of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF), opened the event - entitled 20:20 Vision: 20 Years of Success, 20 Years of Vision - by thanking everyone who had contributed to the schools' success since the opening of Emmanuel College in Gateshead two decades ago.

 

As well as celebrating the last 20 years, the conference also cast a vision for the future development of ESF, with Sir Peter renewing his aim to sponsor seven schools educating a total of 10,000 children.

 

Former schools inspector and author Gervase Phinn, who compered the event, praised ESF's work and its ‘all children matter' philosophy.

 

He said: "Unless you follow a vision in education you should leave it alone. Children are too precious to be tarnished by rusty cynicism.

 

"We can't affect a child's tomorrows but we can do something about a child's todays."

 

In his history of ESF, chairman David Vardy said the overriding quality of the schools was their Christian ethos which provided a foundation to the opportunities, and the development of life skills and wisdom beyond knowledge among students.

 

Looking forward to the next 20 years, ESF chief executive David Wootton promised challenges and excitement and talked of the passion and commitment in all the schools to continue their records of achievement.

 

He also unveiled plans for a leadership development framework to provide opportunities for all staff to develop skills as ESF moves from an "outstanding to world class" organisation.

 

An impressive line-up of external speakers began with Gateshead born Shadow Minister and former MP Lord Michael Bates, who drew on the experience of his home town as an example of what can be achieved with optimism and aspiration.

 

The Reverend Professor Norman Drummond, founder of the Columba 1400 community and leadership centre on the Isle of Skye and a chaplain to The Queen in Scotland, spoke of the importance of selfless responsibility.

 

He said the didactic Victorian style of education based on measurement had to end.

"We are so busy valuing targets we have forgotten how to target values," he said:

 

He added: "We have to rely on human capital for lasting change. It happens one on one, one by one and then in partnership."

 

Leading futurist Dr Patrick Dixon told teachers they were preparing young people for the year 2060 and said ESF was "providing one of the most holistic approaches" to education he had ever seen.

 

As the final speaker, The Reverend Dr David Wilkinson, principal of St John's College and a lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Durham took staff into their Easter break with a timely message about wisdom.

 

Students from ESF's four schools - Bede Academy in Blyth, Emmanuel College, Gateshead, The King's Academy, Middlesbrough, and Trinity Academy, at Thorne near Doncaster - entertained the delegates with performances of dance, singing and music.

 

Emmanuel College dancers performed Cheryl Cole's Fight for this Love; The King's Academy brought its outstanding gospel choir; Bede Academy, which has only been open for seven months, brought one of its choirs and a group of drummers for their live performance; and Trinity Academy staged a scene from Blue Brothers, all to great acclaim from the audience.

 

Four of the schools' Principals were put to the test before their staff teams in a competition to find out who had a hidden talent when it came to cake decorating. Jonathan Winch, Principal of Emmanuel College, emerged triumphant with his cake judged to be the best by Clare Armstrong, patisserie chef of Newcastle's Café 21.

 

The spotlight was also shone on the entire audience, called onto their feet and into action by vocal coach Sharon Durant who led 800 voices in two songs.

 

During the day the students were also coached by Sharon behind the scenes in two songs which they performed as a combined choir providing a fitting finale to the conference.

 

 

Exceptional dedication is rewarded

 

The first ESF awards recognising talent, hard work and achievement among colleagues both in and outside the classroom were presented at the 20:20 Vision conference.

 

Finalists were nominated by their schools with the winners selected by a panel comprising Sir Peter and David Vardy, David Wootton and the school's Principals.

 

The winners of two special awards were chosen by Sir Peter himself: the Emmanuel Schools Foundation Award for Ian Brew, Principal of Trinity Academy in Thorne, and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Gary Wiecek, a Vice Principal at The King's Academy in Middlesbrough, who was one of the original team at Emmanuel College.

 

The other winners were:

Teacher of the Year - won jointly by Spencer Hennessey, Emmanuel College, and Veronica Lathwood, Trinity Academy;

Leader of the Year - Chris Lord, The King's Academy;

Support Colleague of the Year - Emma Clelland, Bede Academy;

Beyond the Classroom - Andy Martin, Trinity Academy;

Innovation Award - Emma Chapman, Trinity Academy;

Outstanding Contribution - won jointly by Stephen Richardson, Emmanuel College, and Ian Hennebry, Bede Academy;

Personality of the Year - Paul Johnson, The King's Academy.