A WIRRAL primary school has again been honoured for its 'outstanding' commitment to arts following a production inspired by a visit from the Duke of Cambridge.
Staff and pupils at Riverside Primary in Seacombe, winners of the 'Outstanding Arts in Primary School' award last year, learned they had retained the title for their Archie and the Royal Avocado project during the prestigious Educate Awards ceremony at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral on Friday night.
The performance followed Prince William's visit to the school last year, when four-year old pupil Archie gave him a unique gift for the Duchess of Cambridge - an avocado - as his mum was also pregnant at the time and found avocados had helped her morning sickness symptoms.
Their award nomination read: "Inspired by the excitement that the royal visit generated, staff and pupils made an all-singing, all-dancing production Archie and the Royal Avocado which involved the whole community.
"With a focus on enhancing the mental health, well-being and happiness of pupils, the impact of the far-reaching project has been vast – all pupils state they are ‘happy’ at Riverside and writing progress is at 100% good or better across the entire school."
Last night's presentation, now in its seventh year, was attended by more than 600 guests and hosted by broadcaster, Simon ‘Rossie’ Ross.
In total, 21 honours were handed out to schools in the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Other Wirral nominees were Ridgeway High School; runner-up for the 'outstanding commitment to sport in secondary school' award. Heswall Primary School, Wirral Hospitals' School and Leasowe Primary School were all finalists on the night.
The evening also saw the premiere of the Educate Awards Super Choir Children in Need music video We are all Stars, which Riverside Primary School took part in.
The recording features the voices of more than 300 students from local schools, with all proceeds from the sales going to the charity.
Kim O'Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, says: "Many congratulations to Riverside Primary School on their fantastic award win, and for taking part in this year's Super Choir for Children in Need.
"We are so proud to host an event which champions the creativity, diversity and dedication of teachers, school support stars, schools and colleges in the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
“It’s been an exceptional year of entries, so many congratulations to all the winners, runners-up and finalists for 2018.”
The full list of winners is, as follows ...
The communication award:
- Winner: Alsop High School
- Runner up: St Peter’s CE Primary School
Eco school project of the year:
- Winner: Queen’s Park CE/URC Primary School
- Runner up: Booker Avenue Junior School
Spirit of enterprise award:
- Winner: Morecambe Bay Community Primary School
- Runner up: Neston High School
SEND provision award:
- Winner: The Academy of St Francis of Assisi
- Runner up: Alsop High School
Innovative and creative literacy award:
- Winner: Halewood Academy
- Runner up: Queen’s Park CE / URC Primary School
STEM project of the year:
- Winner: Beamont Collegiate Academy
- Runner up: Sandbach High School
Outstanding arts in a primary school:
- Winner: Riverside Primary School
- Runner up: Lister Junior School
Outstanding arts in a secondary school:
- Winner: The Academy of St Francis of Assisi
- Runner up: Archbishop Blanch CofE High School
Career aspiration award:
- Winner: All Saints Sixth Form College
- Runner up: St Damian’s RC Science College
Community partnership award:
- Winner: Northwood Community Primary School
- Runner up: The Hollins
Outstanding teaching of life skills:
- Winner: Abbot’s Lea School
- Runner up: Middlefield Community Primary School
Innovation in education award:
- Winner: The Hollins
- Runner up: Mayfield School
Outstanding commitment to sport in a primary school:
- Winner: Plantation Primary School
- Runner up: St Aloysius Catholic Primary School
Outstanding commitment to sport in a secondary school:
- Winner: Rainford High
- Runner up: Ridgeway High School
Leadership team of the year:
- Winner: Gateacre School
- Runner up: Archbishop Blanch CofE High School
Teacher of the year:
- Winner: Suzanne Gardner, Academy @ Worden
- Runner up: Margaret Banks, St Damian’s RC Science College
School support star of the year:
- Winner: Elizabeth Jones, St Damian’s RC Science College
- Runner up: Judith Bowden, St John Bosco Arts College
Most Inspirational 16-18 education provider:
- Winner: Formby High School
- Runner up: Cardinal Langley RC Sixth Form
Most inspirational secondary school:
- Winner: Ormiston Chadwick Academy
- Joint runner up: Gateacre School and Archbishop Blanch CofE High School
Most inspirational primary school:
- Winner: Billinge St Aidan’s CofE Primary School
- Runner up: Kentmere Academy Primary School
'Wow' recognition award:
- Winner: The Hollins, Accrington
- Runner up: Halewood CofE Primary School
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