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Three UK teachers in running for Global Teacher Prize
Three UK teachers have been shortlisted for $1 million prize from over 10,000 applications across 179 countries
Three UK teachers have been named in the top 50 shortlist for the 2019 $1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.
The three teachers were selected from over 10,000 nominations and applications from 179 countries around the world.
The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession, as well as highlighting the important role that teachers play.
It is now in its fifth year, and in 2018 was won by British teacher Andria Zafirakou (pictured above).
The top 50 shortlist will be whittled down to 10 finalists in February, and the winner of the 2019 award will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on Sunday 24 March.
Global Teacher Prize - the UK contenders
The shortlisted British teachers for this year’s award are:
Emma Russo, a physics and science teacher at South Hampstead High School in London
When Ms Russo started her career, she said she witnessed capable, interested girls who were not continuing with physics because they lacked confidence in the face of cultural attitudes towards women in science.
She used Google Cardboard virtual-reality headsets and mobile phones to show her pupils the universe, and set up Skype calls with scientists at CERN to allow her girls’ school to learn how the concepts they were learning in the classroom were being applied in the real world.
Her efforts improved pupils’ confidence and grades, with one class achieving 100 per cent A-A* grades in physics. She also created “Girls in Physics” - a termly event based at Highgate School where girls are invited to hear from female researchers or industry professionals in physics and engineering.
Andrew Moffat, a teacher at Parkfield Community School, Birmingham
His “No Outsiders” programme teaches inclusiveness and extolls the virtues of diversity, whilst recognising that children may receive different messages at home than they do in school and providing them a safe and non-judgmental space to air these different opinions.
He has extended it to other teachers across the UK, training them on “No Outsiders”, with pilots in three cities, and he has used the programme as a tool to reduce the potential for radicalisation.
In May 2016 Ofsted rated Parkfield School “outstanding” - specifically recognising Mr Moffat’s project - and in 2017 he was awarded an MBE for services to equality and diversity in education.
Jimmy Rotheram is a music teacher at Feversham Primary Academy in Bradford, West Yorkshire
Mr Rotheram has put music front and centre of his school’s curriculum, with every child given a minimum of three music lessons per week, a one-hour music assembly and the option of up to seven hours of music tuition.
His approach to teaching music follows aspects of the Kodály approach - a nurturing rather than critical method that has led to many pupils from poorer or minority backgrounds becoming keen musicians.