Well Done Gray's Farm Primary Academy! Posted on 17 June 2016 by Admin in General Today The Pearson Teaching Award winners were announced across the UK and one of the teachers from Gray’s Farm Primary Academy in Kent was given this wonderful recognition. Claire Appleton of Gray’s Farm Primary Academy in Orpington has been announced as a Silver Teaching Award Winner in the category, The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School in the Pearson Teaching Awards 2016!Selected from thousands of nominations received by the Pearson Teaching Awards in 2016, Claire’s is one of just 55 celebrations which will be taking place in schools and colleges across England, Ireland and Wales on Thank a Teacher Day, 17 June 2016, when prestigious Silver Pearson Teaching Awards are be presented to outstanding local heroes of education.The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers and teaching, founded in 1999 by Lord Puttnam, they recognize the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach.Claire will now join fellow Silver Award winners at the UK final of the Teaching Awards to be held at a glittering celebration at London’s Guildhall on 23rd October, where 10 Silver Award winners will receive a Gold Plato Award. Award presenters in 2015 included Prime Minister David Cameron, Bake-Off Champion Nadiya Hussain, War Horse author Michael Morpurgo and actor Sheila Hancock. The 2016 ceremony, titled “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.Rod Bristow, President of Pearson UK said: ‘It’s an honour for us to support the Teaching Awards each year. Research shows that great teaching has the biggest impact on a child’s education so it’s vital for us to recognise and celebrate Inspirational teachers, for their commitment to teaching and learning and improving the life chances of the next generation. All those receiving a silver trophy today should feel extremely proud of their achievement”.Mrs Abrahams, Head of School says, “I fondly refer to Claire as, ‘the unicorn of the teaching world’, and with very good reason. Quite simply, she is amazing. In my whole career, I have never met someone quite like Claire. She is the most dedicated and inspirational teacher that I have ever had the privilege to work with”.Harry Burns, a former Gray’s Farm pupil now in Year 10 said, “I love Mrs Appleton, she is so inspiring and I am in awe of her!”A big congratulation to Mrs Appleton and Gray’s Farm Primary Academy! Follow the excitement on Twitter with #ThankATeacherBe a part of it next year and nominate a colleague or team for 2017’s Pearson Teaching Award!Thank you to Gray’s Farm Primary Academy for letting us share their press release which originally appeared on their website.