Four of the capital’s educators and schools have been announced as gold award winners for their dedication to students at last night’s Pearson National Teaching Awards, considered the ‘Oscars’ of the teaching profession.

The four London teachers and schools were nominated and selected as gold award winners amongst thousands of nominees based on their inspirational teaching, contributions to their school and community, and influence among colleagues, as assessed by judges.

Zac Moxon, the Chiswick-based winner of the Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year, was recognised for inspiring students through music. In his role as Head of Music at Chiswick School, Zac has formed a choir, helped students record an album, and created venue and community partnerships for the school’s steelpan and band groups, boosting GCSE music enrollment by 50%.

The Performing Arts Department at HRUC Uxbridge College received the Award for Further Education Team of the Year. With its team containing many professional performers, musicians and composers, the department has nurtured its students to excellence by mirroring professional industry standards. Students often graduate to West End roles and entertainment careers.

The Woodland Nursery, a forest school in Beckenham and winner of the Award for Early Years Team of the Year was recognised for its commitment to ensuring students are present and learning, with nature at the heart of its approach. Recognising that children are the future of the planet, the Woodland Nursery combines learning and nature to foster a healthy approach to early years learning.

The gold win for the Award for Digital Innovator of the Year went to Nino Trentinella, Head of the Art & Photography Department at Sutton Grammar School. She was commended for inspiring her students by combining art and technology in her classes. She embeds cutting-edge technology in her art classes including AI, robotics and embedded stereoscopy. Nino is reshaping students’ and parents’ perceptions of the arts sector and its career opportunities.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration that honours the outstanding achievements of educators across the UK. It’s run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity now in its 25th year, and sponsored by Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. These awards celebrate the transformative impact of education, shining a spotlight on the pivotal roles of teachers, support staff, colleges, schools and early years educators. With an inspiring lineup of winners in 2023 there is also an opportunity for educators across the country to be recognised in the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards. Entries are now open and submissions can be made through the Pearson National Teaching Awards website.

Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “We all know that a great teacher can enrich your life, can help you rise to the challenge, believe in yourself, find your own voice. I know that because it happened more than once to me. That’s why these Teaching Awards are so important, and important to me. Every year, without fail, we see nominations which move and inspire us and this year we have seen stellar examples of life-changing role models for young people. I want to once again congratulate the winners of the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards and thank them for the incredible impact they have on our communities.”

Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said: “It’s an honour to celebrate and express gratitude to our teachers and the incredible impact they have on our communities. The hard work that goes into teaching and showing up for students day in and day out cannot be underestimated. Congratulations to all winners and thank you for your continuous efforts.”

Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan has said: “The impact of a teacher on a child’s life can be immeasurable – I know it was for me. I am so grateful to all the staff in our schools and colleges for everything they do. This year marks 25 years of the Teaching Awards Trust, which is a huge landmark. Teachers change lives and we should all feel a sense of gratitude to those we are celebrating today. Thank you again and congratulations.”