The following article by the Executive Principal of Plume Academy, Carl Wakefield, announces the fabulous news that three members of staff have received nominations in this year's Essex Teaching Awards.

Here, Mr Wakefield gives full details of the nominations and tells of his pride in his three colleagues - and in all the teaching and support staff at Plume Academy for their work in the past very challenging year:

We were genuinely delighted that three of our teaching staff colleagues received nominations for the 'Essex Teaching Awards 2021'.

Here are the actual nominations for these three colleagues who we are incredibly proud of:

Ms Jo Everett – Assistant Vice Principal

In a year which has been like no other, I believe there is one teacher who has gone above and beyond.

Ms Everett has played a significant role in ensuring the smooth transition of primary school students to secondary school during a time of anxiety and concern shared by parents and students alike.

She worked tirelessly throughout lockdown to provide regular communication to the parents and students who would be moving from primary school to The Plume Academy. New ways of working were very quickly established and new resources used to enable some kind of transition to take place.

Ms Everett completed virtual tours of the school site and shared these with new students to ensure they became familiar with their new school. She included areas of mental and emotional wellbeing within her communication; this helped students to realise the worries they had about starting a new school were normal and that they weren't alone.

Ms Everett clearly cares for her students, families and the wider community. This is evident by her visible presence within the school. She regularly greets students in the morning at the gate with a smile and will respond to a parent email or call regardless of it not being within school hours. The reassurance this gives to parents (especially those new to secondary school) is priceless, nothing is too much trouble for Ms Everett. To know your child is in a happy and safe environment where they are always encouraged to achieve their best is the best evidence to show how deserving Ms Everett is of this award.

Miss Louise Cummins – KS4 English Lead (who actually received three nominations)

Louise almost single-handedly ensured the accuracy and timeliness of the 300 Centre Assessed Grades for GCSE students affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this she has planned almost every single remote learning lesson for Year 10 students throughout the summer term of 2020 and beyond, ensuring seamless teaching transitions in this autumn term, too.

When students were at home remote learning she communicated with them on a daily basis to troubleshoot, offer advice and push students to their very best. Since coming back in September, in addition to her usual duties being increased through remote learning needs, she is running multiple book clubs and leading her key stage in an 'inspirational way', to quote a colleague in our faculty.

Louise is a credit to her faculty and school, and deserves any recognition that comes her way. Most of all, students truly value her teaching style, expertise, support and compassion; she rarely gets a break or lunch to herself because students seek her out so much!

I'd like to nominate Louise for her tireless professionalism in challenging circumstances. During the lockdown she:

-Ensured CAGs for 300+ students in English Language and English Literature.

-Supported the Faculty through transition of Faculty Leader

-Designed remote learning for Y10s, leading almost EVERY session to 150+ online 3x a week LIVE lessons (unlike other schools and also unlike other faculties; did not opt for easier/recorded option, but presented live)

-supported students during remote teaching emailing daily.

Since returning in September she has also run KS4 book clubs to engage students in reading. She is a constant source of support in the faculty, with a consistent positive attitude and knowledge of classes, students and teachers. She is inspirational in her knowledge, understanding, care and diligence.

Louise's support of students during remote teaching, emailing daily was exemplary. She continues to run KS4 book clubs to engage and celebrate learning in school.

Louise supports the English faculty staff with consistent positive attitude and knowledge of classes, students and teachers in real depth. She is inspirational in her knowledge and understanding as well as her care and diligence. Louise is incredibly humble and modest. I could not envisage a more worthy candidate for Essex Teaching Awards.

Mrs Lois Russell – Deputy Faculty Leader for English

I would like to nominate Mrs Russell for a teaching award for the many ways that she has encouraged my classmates and I since lockdown began. Firstly, Mrs Russell deserves an award because she helped me discover my love of reading through recommending and supplying me with books. Mrs Russell also took an interest in my speech topic for my GCSE public speaking, suggesting books relating to my theme so that I could read more about my topic.

Secondly, the detailed and prompt feedback that she gave me throughout lockdown was invaluable. It motivated me to continue my work online and really helped prepare me for GCSEs.

Thirdly, she encouraged my classmates and I to write more poetry by creating a poetry competition for my school, and gave positive and kind feedback for each entry.

Fourthly, she recommended online poetry courses for me to complete over my summer holidays, which I found useful to improve my writing. Fifthly, despite never having met her students in person, she ensured that she got to know us during lockdown, interacting individually with students through online lessons and email.

Finally, Mrs Russell encouraged me to take English A level next year when I hadn't considered it as a subject choice. I strongly believe that Mrs Russell deserves a teaching award because she has gone above and beyond to build up the confidence of my classmates and I in our abilities in English.

Many congratulations to these three colleagues on receiving these prestigious nominations and in essence, reflecting the fantastic work done by the teaching and support staff of Plume Academy throughout the pandemic period thus far.

Mr Wakefield

Executive Principal