The Teaching Awards Trust celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a reception at Number 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 18th October. The event was hosted by the Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, and attended by esteemed guests including Lord Puttnam, the BBC, sponsors, and past and present supporters, and winners from the 25-year history of The Teaching Awards Trust.
Lord Puttnam and Gillian Keegan gave rousing, passionate speeches about the importance of the education profession in the United Kingdom, with Lord Puttnam stating that establishing The Teaching Awards Trust was the proudest achievement of his career.
Professor Toby Salt, Chair of the Teaching Awards Trust, says: “We’re delighted to celebrate 25 years of the Teaching Awards Trust and reaffirm the vital importance of education staff in our lives. We want teaching and support staff across early years, schools and colleges to feel appreciated, celebrated and proud of the work they do and the difference they make. In a world that is constantly evolving, education remains our most powerful tool for transformation and it’s never been more important that we celebrate the education staff who work tirelessly to change the lives of the young people in their care.”
The Teaching Awards Trust was set up by Lord David Puttnam in 1998, who wanted to create the ‘Oscars’ of the teaching profession – awards that elevated and celebrated the status of teachers and their work. Since its creation 25 years ago, the charity has established two of the largest events in the education calendar – National Thank a Teacher Day and the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards, which celebrate hundreds of inspiring educators every year.
