Kirton Primary School shortlisted for national awards

A primary school has been shortlisted for a series of national awards.

Kirton Primary School have been named as finalists in the Education Business Awards in two categories - Outstanding Progress (Primary School) Award and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Award.

“The shortlist this time is in recognition of the school’s exciting curriculum,” headteacher Nicky Donley said.

“In addition to the National Curriculum, the school enhances children’s learning of finances through having its own High Street, comprising a shop, market stall, bank and café.

“It enhances learning on the environment by having two huge glasshouses (based on the Eden Project) housing Mediterranean and tropical biomes.

“It also represent the temperate zone with a pond, complete with bridge, a vegetable patch, an orchard and an outdoor classroom. We also have 2 huge climbing frames on the grounds as well as outdoor gym equipment.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Donley herself is a finalist in the Headteacher of the Year category at the Education Awards.

She was put forward by Pearson Education, which she described as a ‘lovely surprise’.

Nicky is also a finalist in The TES Awards for Curriculum Leader of the Year.

However, this is actually an achievement for every staff member in the school who either delivers or supports the curriculum – which is everyone.

The TES Awards are considered to be the Oscars of education with more than 10,000 entries a year.

The school has been honoured to have been shortlisted every year since it first entered these awards in 2017 (with the exception of the Covid years in 2020 and 2021) – a total of eight shortlist places over a period of six years.

Kirton Primary won the Staff Wellbeing of the Year title in 2022.

The winners of the Education Business Awards will be announced in London on June 21 with the Education Awards winners revealed in Birmingham on July 4.

The TES award will be announced in London on June 12.