THREE people are in the running an award for their work helping their schools achieve 'good' or 'excellent' ratings after visits by inspectors.

The Governor of the Year award, sponsored by Bradford Council, will be one of nine presented at the 2022 Education Awards, on Thursday evening at Bradford Hotel.

Martin Alton, Moorfield School and Nursery

A GOVERNOR has been praised a “true rock” for guiding a private Ben Rhydding school through the challenges of the pandemic and to an “excellent” rating during a recent visit by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Martin Alton is chair of governors at Moorfield School and Nursery.

Headteacher Tina Herbert said: “He supported the school during the pandemic, overseeing changes in staff and governors and working to implement improvements in the building, school grounds and use of technology in school.

“Keeping parents on board through lockdown and remote learning was almost a full-time job for Martin, one which he has done cheerfully, carefully, fairly and honestly - he has been a true rock.”

“The ultimate challenge came in November 2021 when the school was inspected. His input during the inspection was immense and he demonstrated his commitment to the school. With Martin behind us, we achieved the highest inspection grades.”

Martin said: “We sat down for the results with the inspection team and it came back as a ‘excellent’ across all four aspects of the criteria. It was a fantastic meeting to sit in a listen to what they were saying about the school.”

Trevor Evans, Exceed Academies Trust

A CHAIR of trustees has been praised for leading a group of schools to some fantastic achievements.

Peter Taylor, of Exceed Academies Trust, said: “Trevor Evans, as chair of trustees, has led Exceed Academies Trust fantastically well through the challenges of the past few years. He has done a brilliant job leading the Trust Board since 2016.

“He is always on hand to support the Trust when required and has overseen some fantastic achievements over the past year.”

Trevor said: “I’ve been in education since 1972 when I started teaching. I never really left, apart from the fact I retired when I was 65. Then I offered myself as a governor.

“We’ve got some good schools, but we’re not called Exceed for nothing. Exceed is our strapline and that’s what we’re all about, from pupils to teachers and for our communities, our parents.

“One of our great achievements is receiving the the award for the Teaching School Hub for the whole of Bradford. Originally we were one of six in the country and that’s now been expanded to 87. We cover schools across Bradford as well as neighbouring authorities.

On being nominated for the award, Trevor said: “I would do it regardless but it’s nice to singled out.”

Sally Wike, Appleton Academy

THE chair of a board of governors has been lauded for leading a Bradford school to a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted for the first time in its history.

Peter Taylor, of Exceed Academies Trust, said: “The Governing Board at Appleton Academy was refreshed in 2018 and the Governors led by the chair, Sally Wike, have done an incredible job to drive continued improvement of the school year on year.

“The result of all the positive work came following a visit by Ofsted in November 2021. The school was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted for the first time in its history, with inspectors judging it ‘good’ in all areas.

Sally said: “The achievement is not a year’s worth of work it’s the culmination of about four years of work.

“Ever since Exceed Academies Trust started to work with the school here and the leadership team, we’ve been on a journey together to try and move from a lower Ofsted rating to at least ‘good’. The ultimate ambition is ‘outstanding’.

“The participation of the students and staff to work together, that’s what made it. That’s what has moved it on exceptionally well.

On being nominated, Sally said: “I feel humbled. It’s not really about me, it’s about the whole governing body and they have had to come together to made sure that school is the best it could be for the students.”