STUDENTS and staff at Glenmoor and Winton Academies are celebrating after being shortlisted for Secondary School of the Year at the TES Schools Awards for the second consecutive year.

The annual TES Schools Awards celebrate the commitment, quality and innovation shown by exceptional teachers, teams and support staff across the UK.

In being shortlisted for one of the most highly-prized awards for the second time, TES judges confirmed that Glenmoor and Winton Academies are showcasing consistent excellence.

Stuart Ingram, Executive Principal at the Glenmoor and Winton Academies, said: “It’s fantastic to see our academies being shortlisted for this award once again and receiving national recognition, especially given the challenges of the last few months.

“Our consistently high-performance record is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our teachers and support staff who really do strive to provide our students with a rich and engaging school experience.

“As well as delivering a strong academic curriculum, we’re committed to delivering an education with character. This means we seek to give our young people opportunities to hone new skills, embrace challenges head on and develop into happy and successful young adults.”

Several staff from the school made impressive contributions to the government-backed, online learning platform Oak National Academy during lockdown, delivering virtual lessons to their own students as well as thousands of others across the country.

Having safely welcomed their students back into the classroom last month, the academies are now working to consolidate this learning, whilst continuing to implement a robust set of hygiene and social distancing measures.

Unlike in previous years when the awards ceremony took place in person, this year’s awards are set to be presented as part of an exceptional online event on Friday November 13.

TES editor, Ann Mroz, said: “It is always a highlight of the education calendar to see the best ideas and people lauded at the Tes Schools Awards.

“But this year, it felt more important than ever to run an event that showcased and celebrated the hard work that teachers and school staff do for children and their local community every single day.

“This has been one of the most difficult years in education, but – as ever – teachers continue to rise to the challenge.

“We had a record number of entries this year and the standard was very high, so all those shortlisted should be very proud: it's an extraordinary achievement to be on this shortlist."