The Northern Echo:

WHEN Education Secretary Michael Gove said last year that he could "smell defeatism" in North-East schools, The Northern Echo took him to task.

There is no question that North-East schools have their problems. Some are outstanding and some are failing - as they are in regions across the country. It was Mr Gove's ignorant generalisation which caused such offence.

Well, there was no smell of defeatism in the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe today when the inaugural Northern Echo Schools Awards were presented. The focus shone very brightly on the achievements of our schools, pupils and teachers.

Anyone who has ever experienced teaching knows it is a highly skilled and demanding job, with expectations driven by Government league tables which don't always tell the full story.

There is a public appetite for inadequate schools and poor teachers to be dealt with strongly, and that means failings within the education system often grab the headlines.

But for every failure, there are countless successes which go unseen: dedicated teachers transforming young lives; pupils and students doing their schools and colleges proud; governors voluntarily devoting long hours to supporting educational improvements.

It was in the spirit of highlighting those successes that our awards took place. School of the Year was Darlington's Carmel College, which is ranked joint eighth in the country. Head teacher of the year was Calvin Kipling, who has transformed the former Branksome Comprehensive into the progressive Darlington School of Mathematics and Science.

There were also inspiring stories among the nominees for the pupil of the year awards. Matthew Edwards, of Mowden Junior School in Darlington, won the primary award for not just his academic and sporting achievements but his volutary work as a young play leader. David Forrest, of Belmont Community School in Durham, won the secondary schools' award for raising £1,500 for a cancer charity by organising a sponsored head shave after his mother was diagnosed with myeloma.

The first Northern Echo Schools Awards have shown the value of celebrating educational achievements and we intend to make the event even bigger and better next year.

Smell the success, Mr Gove.

  • The full roll of honour appears in tomorrow's Northern Echo and a special souvenir supplement will be published on April 8.