Finalists revealed for Welsh Teaching Awards includes Maes y Gwendraeth’s Iona Llyr

29 educational professionals from Wales have been announced as finalists for the national awards which returns with a new category

This year, 29 education professionals have made it to the finals of the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru, which celebrates inspiring education professionals across Wales.

Pupils, colleagues, and parents have nominated the extraordinary education professionals in their lives, and the nominees have now been shortlisted to 29 finalists across ten categories, including ‘Headteacher of the Year’, and ‘Pupils’ Award for Best Teacher’.

This year sees the introduction of a new category – The Betty Campbell MBE award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities’ – named after Wales’ first black headteacher. This award will recognise an individual, team or school that has demonstrated an outstanding awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom.

The new award has been welcomed by Betty’s daughter, Elaine Clarke, who said: “The Award is a wonderful way to promote inclusion of all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and we are sure the recipients will continue to be inspired and develop future generations in the footsteps of our mother.”

The decision to introduce ‘The Betty Campbell MBE Award’ to the fifth annual Professional Teaching Awards Cymru was a recommendation by Professor Charlotte Williams OBE, who led a review into the Welsh curriculum last year to recommend how to promote the inclusion of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, histories, contributions and lived experiences in schools.

Professor Charlotte Williams OBE said: “Diversity is a central and cross cutting theme of the new curriculum. This award will encourage schools to think strategically about how they can embed this important dimension within all that they do’

“The launch of this award is a sure sign that the Welsh Government is responding swiftly to the recommendations of the Ministerial report on diversity in the new curriculum.”

The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said: “The calibre of this year’s nominations has, as ever, been outstanding. They demonstrate the breadth of inspiring education professionals we have here in Wales and it’s important we recognise that.’

“We have so much good work promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities by schools and educators across Wales, and this is recognised by the new Betty Campbell MBE award.’

“I look forward to celebrating these fantastic individuals who go above and beyond for their profession.”

Join the conversation with #TeachingAwardsCymru2022 or follow @WG_Education.

The Professional Teaching Awards Cymru 2022 finalists:

Headteacher of the Year

Meurig Jones, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, Pontypool / Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, Bridgend

Kathryn Matthews, Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Caerphilly

Inspirational Use of the Welsh Language

Elizabeth Hamlin, Aberdare Town Church in Wales, Aberdare

Iona Llyr, Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Llanelli

Mari Salisbury, Ysgol Croesi Atti, Flint

Outstanding New Teacher

Holly Gordon, Ysgol Bryn Derw ASD Special School, Newport

Ifan Tomos Jenkins, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph

Danielle Powell, Pantysgallog Primary School, Merthyr Tydfil

Pupil (or Pupils’) Award for Best Teacher

Julia Adamson, Cadoxton Primary School, Barry

Laura Buffee, Haverfordwest High VC School, Haverfordwest

Bethan Howells, Treorchy Comprehensive School, Treorchy

School Business Manager/Bursar

Claire Coakley, St Martin’s School, Caerphilly

Honora Rowlands, Christ the Word Catholic School, Rhyl

Sandra Sant, Hawarden High School, Deeside

Supporting Teachers and Learners

Carolyn Platt, Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay

Gill Sullivan, Maesteg High School, Maesteg

Ysgol Glan Clwyd Support Team, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph

Teacher of the Year in a Primary school

Lee Arthur, Llanharan Primary School, Pontyclun

Sean Jones, Ysgol Glan Gele, Abergele

Charmaine Riley, Radyr Primary School, Radyr

Teacher of the Year in a Secondary school

Kate Jones, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St. Asaph

Lucy Morgan, Ysgol y Deri, Penarth

Mark Morgan, Pen y Dre High School, Merthyr Tydfil

Youth Work in Schools and the Community

Nigel Bowie, Local Authority, Vale of Glamorgan

Chris Gledhill, Conwy Youth Service, Conwy

Christian Williams, Heolddu Comprehensive School, Caerphilly

The Betty Campbell MBE award for promoting the contributions and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities’ – new for 2022

Llanwern High School, Newport

Pembroke Dock Primary School, Pembroke Dock

Ysgol Penyffordd, Penyffordd