A Sunderland headteacher whose school had to close over the RAAC issue has received a special award - voted for by her adoring pupils.
Lianne Peart, of St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, was one of the worthy winners at Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust’s Chadwick Celebration Awards 2024.
She won the Inspirational Staff Award at the event held at Ramside Hall in Durham.
Her mantra that “it’s not a building that makes the school, it’s the people” helped her guide her pupils during the transition to Gabriel House last September.
“I’m proud to be part of the community and make a difference with such a fabulous team,” she said.
“This recognises the challenges we have faced and that in adversity, I think we’ve found strength in the community and in each other.”
Mrs Peart praised the “team effort” in creating a new temporary home for pupils within seven days in what she likened to a DIY SOS challenge.
Other winners included Anthony Maratty, who was “over the moon” to scoop the SCITT Trainee of the Year Award.
Having been a teaching assistant for four years, he started the School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) course at St Bede’s Catholic Primary School, South Shields, last September.
BCCET, which has 30 schools across South Tyneside, Sunderland and East Durham, runs the 12-month course in partnership with Teach First.
Rachel Cameron, of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Sunderland, was recognised as an active member of the school’s Local Governing Committee (LGC), winning the Governance Award.
“St Mary’s has been a part of my life since I was four in 1986,” she said.
“My Mum worked there and my daughter attended, so St Mary’s has always felt very much a family environment to me.”
For information about applying for a SCITT or becoming a governor, visit www.bccet.org.uk