Creative Staffordshire school shortlisted for national award

@TheHartSchool in Rugeley is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award that recognises “extraordinary commitment” in education.

The Penkridge Bank Road high school, which is part of Creative Education Trust, has been shortlisted for the title of Creative School of the Year in the 2020 Tes (formerly Times Educational Supplement) Schools Awards.

Tes states that: “The awards celebrate the extraordinary commitment, quality and innovation shown by teachers and school staff across the UK” who are “raising the standards of education and making a positive impact on the personal and academic success of students and the wider community.”

One of only eight UK schools shortlisted for Disney-sponsored title

The Hart School, which is proud to celebrate creative as well as academic success, is one of just eight UK schools to make it onto the shortlist for the Disney-sponsored title.

Headteacher Miss Rachael Sandham said:

“We are thrilled to pieces to have been nominated for a Tes Schools Awards for Creative School of the Year alongside some equally excellent schools.

“Thanks to all the staff, students and parents that help to make the school so special. Win or lose, it’s amazing to have the school community’s hard work recognised.”

The Hart’s nomination for the highly respected award is for its “Knowledge Connected” programme which is based on six concepts – structure, pattern, meaning, performance, human interaction and practice – that nurture personal development and employability.

Creative vision: To make young people resourceful and employable

“Our educational vision, with Creative Education Trust, is that creativity is the ability to make new connections between the things we know, and to turn these connections into ideas and practical action,” added Miss Sandham.

“We believe that connecting knowledge needs to be at the heart of education because it is vital to improving standards and will make young people resourceful and employable in tomorrow’s knowledge economy.”

The winning schools will be announced by Tes in a fortnight on November 13. You can see the full shortlist here.