Janet Hayward, Principal of Cadoxton Primary School, a Third Green Flag status Eco-School, is one of the finalists of The Global Teacher Prize 2016. The Global Teacher Prize is an annual $1US million dollar award that will be given to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.
The Varkey Foundation established the Prize in 2014 to raise the stature of the teaching profession. The award — dubbed the ‘Nobel Prize’ of teaching — operates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. The Prize underlines the importance of the teaching profession and symbolises the fact that teachers throughout the world deserve to be recognised and celebrated. The winner is chosen by the prominent Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of head-teachers, educational experts, commentators, journalists, public officials, tech entrepreneurs, company directors and scientists from around the world. The winner will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in March 2016 in Dubai.
Janet has been the principal at two schools in Wales; both have achieved Eco-Schools status and shown long term commitment to the Eco Schools programme. As Head teacher Janet has always shown her support and just recently offered the use of facilities at her present school to host a local Eco-Schools teacher training workshop. The pupils and staff have taken part in many Eco-Schools topic activities from school ground development and growing food, to investigating transport and supporting healthy living choices. The school was a test case for solar-powered computers and boasts a computer suite run on renewables!
Due to her enthusiasm for engaging students through technology, in particular socially disadvantaged young boys who can be hard to reach with traditional teaching methods, both her schools became ICT pathfinders and have won several awards.
Janet has also set up a Lego Innovation studio that is shared between three schools and supports challenging STEM learning. Technology is used as a driver to engage learners in and between lessons, allowing them to collaborate and lead their own learning in a creative and ambitious way. Standards and attendance have steadily risen and student behaviour has improved.
Her students have led the consultation process for a grant funding application to extend the facilities of their Community Learning Café. The local authority was so impressed by the quality of their submission that the students have been asked to consult on the use of considerable redevelopment funds for their area.
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Eco-Schools International commend the great work done by Janet and wish her all the best in her future career. She is already a winner to us!