Teachers and students honoured at Oldham education ‘Oscars’

Just the business! Oldham Academy North principal Martin Knowles, right, and Abbie Lockitt, the school’s business and industry co-ordinator, celebrate winning the enterprise award with David Benstead from Oldham Business Leadership Group

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THE borough’s top students and teachers have been honoured at the fourth annual Oldham Education Awards.

Students with the highest grades at school, college or university received certificates at a ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Manchester’s Kevin Fitzpatrick.

New awards were also introduced this year, with best-teacher trophies going to Anne Blything from Blue Coat School and Sean Whitehead from Failsworth School.

Another new category, the Oldham Business Leadership Group and Norman Stoller Award for Enterprise, honoured the school that had shown the most entrepreneurial spirit and went to Oldham Academy North - winner of this year’s Oldham Young Enterprise competition.

More than 300 people attended the awards, at the Eastern Pavilion Banqueting Hall in Werneth. Guests included Mayor, Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman and Councillor Shoab Akhtar, cabinet member for education and skills.

There was also entertainment from dance students from Oldham Sixth Form College and violinist Jessica Crabtree.

Martin Knowles, principal of Oldham Academy North which sponsors the awards, said: “It is a brilliant occasion celebrating the success of young people — and communities are getting together to do that.”

Miss Blything has been head of maths at Blue Coat School for nine years, teaching more that 1,300 children.

Head teacher Julie Hollis said: “Her dedication to the students is unstinting and unparalleled year on year.

Failsworth School head teacher John Meagher nominated Mr Whitehead, assistant head teacher in charge of behaviour and inclusion: “He commands the respect of all as the consummate upholder of standards,” he said. “His presence is school is amazing — he seems to be in four places at once, and is a gentleman with the interests of all the students at heart.”