Newcastle Schools Achievement Awards 2021
The annual NSAAs held on 22 June and were a little different to the events run over the past 15+ years. In the pre-COVID times the Banqueting Suite in the Civic Centre would be filled with around 300 students, parents/carers, teachers as well as some local authority staff, to celebrate the achievements of children and young people in Newcastle.
Schools were really keen for the awards to go ahead this year and, after consulting with the Promise Board, we came up with the idea of running a primary event and a separate secondary event via Teams.
The event was held through 2 Teams meetings with 79 nominees from 28 primary schools and 9 secondary schools.
The reasons for nominations included students who:
- have come to this country speaking, little or no English and have excelled in their studies and immersed themselves in school activities
- are really enthusiastic about school and their studies and excelled despite lockdown
- have faced challenging circumstances or personal tragedy
- are a role model for their peers
- have gone above and beyond to help others during lockdown.
The events didn’t go without the odd technical hitch (I’m sure you’ve all been there!) but the students were all completely amazing and so inspirational. Everyone had a fabulous time.