Northern Ireland

PASS NOTES: Head teacher wins top award

MAIRE Thompson of Malone College has been awarded Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School for her inspirational work.

Ms Thompson was honoured with the highest accolade at the Pearson Teaching Awards in London.

She was nominated for the accolade by pupils, parents and colleagues from her school.

Since she has taken over at Malone College, she has transformed it into a school with high expectations that encourages ambition, and has instilled a renewed sense of optimism and enthusiasm into her staff and pupils alike.

She operates an open-door policy, and pupils throughout the college commented on her remarkable accessibility and knowledge of their lives - including knowledge of their families.

Ms Thompson also brought in the Rainbow Project to help provide support for gay pupils, and has also been recognised for helping pregnant teenagers and any other pupil who had experienced difficulties beyond the usual challenges of teenage life.

Michael Morpurgo, children's author and new President of the Pearson's Teaching Awards said teachers were "quiet heroes".

"By telling their stories, by highlighting their skill and dedication, we can do some justice to them and to the whole profession," he said.

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PUPILS are being encouraged to put forward new educational policies in a competition designed to help them think and write creatively.

The Stranmillis University College Essay Competition is open to young people in Year 13.

The topic this year is: If I was minister of education at Stormont, I would...

Dr Noel Purdy, director of research and scholarship at Stranmillis and judge, said he was impressed by young people's insight, innovation and creativity.

"Last year's winner, Laoise McWilliams from Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch, impressed the judges with her original approach and insightful ideas in response to Albert Einstein’s famous comment that `I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn'.

"Over the past few years, topics for the essay have stirred the imagination but, perhaps more than ever, I'm looking forward to reading what the young people have to say on this year’s topic If I was minister of education at Stormont, I would... Let's see what new educational policies are put forward."

Essays will be judged in terms of their level of understanding, depth of insight, strength of argument, originality and quality of writing. The closing date is February 5.