18 North West Schools and Teachers short listed as UK’s best in Tes Schools Awards 2025

THE Tes Schools Awards (TSA), now in its 17th year, celebrates the extraordinary commitment, quality and innovation shown by Teachers and support staff across the UK. This year the Tes Schools Awards are extremely pleased to report that they have had a record number of nominations being put in for the:- "UK's Most Inspiring Teachers and Schools Award."

The awards, dubbed the:- 'Oscars of education,' recognise the very best Teachers and Schools from both UK State and Independent Schools, across:- Early Years settings, Primary and Secondary.

This year's shortlist was compiled by a panel of expert judges, including:- School Leaders and sector experts. The School's and Teachers they chose are those who showcase the best of UK education within:- 22 award categories, covering all areas of School education.

The shortlist includes:- Southport Learning Trust and Whitefield Primary School, who are both located within Merseyside!

Inclusive Trust of the Year was added as a new category this year, and the final category:- 'Lifetime Achievement Award,' will be announced on the night.

Some of the shortlist highlights this year also include:-

• London and West Midlands almost doubled their representation in the shortlist from 2024.
  

• 33 Schools or Teachers short listed from Southeast England.
  

• Northwest of England celebrates 18 School or Teachers on the shortlist.
  

• 9 Schools or Teachers short listed in Manchester.
  

• Scotland celebrates 4 Schools or Teachers on the shortlist.

Rod Williams, CEO of Tes, said:- "I'd like to thank all those that entered the Tes Schools Awards this year. We've seen some incredible entries and more nominations this year than ever before, which just shows all the fantastic work that is being done across UK education. The Tes Schools Awards are a highlight of the education sector calendar, and it's important that we properly recognise the vital work that is being done across UK education, not just from the past academic year, but on a daily basis."

Winners will be announced on:- 20 June 2025, at a glittering gala awards night, within the:- Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, London.

We have added the:- 'Shortlisted Schools and Teachers in England’s North West' list below, but you can also find out more about the awards and see the full shortlist on the TES website.

The short listed Schools and Teachers in England’s North West:-

Community Engagement Initiative of the Year		Pioneer House School, Greater Manchester
Community Engagement Initiative of the Year		The Barlow RC High School, Manchester
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Setting of the Year		Highfurlong School, Lancashire
Excellence in Creative Arts		Wright Robinson College, Manchester
Inclusive Trust of the Year		The Macclesfield Academy, Cheshire
Primary School of the Year		Whitefield Primary School, Merseyside
Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year		Carr Mill Primary School, Merseyside
Specialist Provision School Leader of the Year		Louise Curran  -  Rowan Tree Primary School, Greater Manchester
Specialist Provision School Leader of the Year		Michelle Wilkinson  -  Pioneer House High School and College, Greater Manchester
Specialist Provision School of the Year		Oakwood Academy, Manchester
Specialist Provision School of the Year		Three Towers Alternative Provision, Greater Manchester
Staff Wellbeing School of the Year		Burnage Academy for Boys, Manchester
Staff Wellbeing School of the Year		Grange School, Manchester
Subject Lead of the Year (Secondary)		Harriet Eakin - The Barlow RC High School, Lancashire
Teaching Assistant of the Year		Karla Taylor  -  SEE (Oldham) CIC, Greater Manchester
Trust of the year - 9 Schools or Fewer		Endeavour Learning Trust, Lancashire
Trust of the year - 9 Schools or Fewer		Great Schools Trust, Cheshire
Trust of the year - 9 Schools or Fewer		Southport Learning Trust, Merseyside

Learners reminded of new rules for test cancellations

LEARNERS within Merseyside are being reminded of a new rule change that can lead to charges for driving test cancellations.  The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced a new requirement for rescheduling or cancelling driving tests, impacting how much notice is required to avoid losing a test payment. Since the:- 8 April 2025, learner drivers have been required to give at least:- '10 full working days notice' to cancel their test, a rule that aims to reduce the number of wasted test appointments. Previously only 3 full working days notice was required.

The new driving test notice policy makes it crucial for learners to plan carefully when booking or rescheduling and learners are being reminded that they will lose their test fee, unless the cancellation was due to special circumstances such as:- illness or a family emergency.

Helen Shields, Collingwood Insurance Services Contact Centre and Operations Director is from learner insurance company Collingwood Insurance. She said:- "Previously, late cancellations meant test slots often went unused. There simply wasn’t enough time for other learners, many of whom were ready to pass, to step in and take those slots. By extending the notice period to 10 working days, the DVSA is taking a sensible step forward to free up slots for test-ready learners and bring down national waiting times, something that has been a challenge for some time. It does mean that learners should take care to book their test only when they’re absolutely ready and it is even more important to be organised and plan ahead."

The DVSA revealed that back in 2024 over 60,000 driving test appointments were wasted because learners failed to show up. That's the equivalent of an entire year's workload for 45 full time examiners, a serious issue at a time when waiting lists for tests are already stretched.

The change applies only to car driving tests and the existing 3 working days notice continues to apply to theory tests; motorcycle tests; lorry and bus driving tests; driving instructor tests and specialist vehicle driving tests. We understand that some exceptions are still in place for those who had to cancel at short notice due to illness or injury, a family bereavement, an exam clash or a stolen driving licence.

For more information about the changes please visit:- Gov.UK.

What are your thoughts on this news topic? Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....