Congratulations to Andy Johnson on receiving the Silver National Award for Secondary Headteacher of the Year
We are absolutely delighted to announce that Andy Johnson was today presented with a Silver Pearson National Award for Secondary Headteacher of the Year 2022. Many congratulations and very well deserved.
PEARSON PRESS STATEMENT:
INSPIRATIONAL READING HEADTEACHER HONOURED IN PRESTIGIOUS UK CELEBRATION OF TEACHING
Today, 26 May, Andy Johnson, Headteacher at Maiden Erlegh School in Reading has been named as one of 80 Pearson National Teaching Award Silver Award winners across the country. Andy is honoured with a Silver Award in the Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School for his outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children he works with every day.
Following a career in youth and charity work, Andy joined Maiden Erlegh School as a trainee RE teacher seventeen years ago. After a variety of middle and senior leadership positions he joined the team leading the Trust’s first free school in east Reading which opened in 2015. Andy was appointed as Headteacher for Maiden Erlegh School in Reading in 2018 and has led work to grow with a relentless focus on providing high quality education and celebrating the vibrant, aspirational and proudly diverse community. Since 2020 Andy, has been Executive Headteacher, which entails being Principal Designate for River Academy the Trust’s exciting new school project in north Reading (due to open in 2024).
Andy has extensive experience in leading and developing highly performing teams and also fostering collaboration with other schools. He is committed to high-quality professional development and has presented at national conferences and DfE roadshows. Another strand to his role is leading on Maiden Erlegh Trust’s professional development strategy – including organising the very successful annual staff conferences.
As a Silver Award winner, Andy has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year. Recognition of this once in a lifetime achievement will be broadcast on the BBC’s The One Show as part of a week-long celebration of teaching, which sees famous faces honour award winners every night in the run-up to the ceremony. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional school teachers and leaders who have worked wonders to bring together their local communities despite the challenges of the past few years.
The Silver Award winners are being honoured as part of the wider celebrations for national ‘Thank a Teacher Day’, bringing together everyone across the country to celebrate the schools and colleges at the heart of our communities.
The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with. This year marks its 23rd year of celebrating our school teaching staff across the UK.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said:
“Congratulations to Andy on this incredible achievement, and for the hard work and dedication which led up to it. Winning this award is impressive, well-deserved and shows Andy’s commitment to helping students achieve their full potential.”
Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said:
"Congratulations to today’s Silver Award winners on their incredible achievement, they should all feel very proud of themselves. And thank you to all the incredible educators and support staff across this country who really do make our schools and colleges so special. I am delighted that we can take this opportunity to say how much we appreciate all that you do for the young people in your care.”
Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said:
“For so many of us, it was someone at school who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, and set us on a path that we have followed ever since.
“No matter who we are, school has touched our lives and played a central role in our childhoods. School is about so much more than learning, and we see that now more than ever before. Schools really are the beating heart of our communities. Every person that cares for our children in schools should be celebrated loud and clear on Thank A Teacher Day 2022.”
