Wymondham College has been commended in The PTI’s Bernice McCabe Award

Education charity, the PTI, has announced the History department at Wymondham College in Norfolk as commended for the Bernice McCabe Award at a Ceremony at Merchant Taylors’ Hall. Bernice McCabe OBE, who sadly passed away in February 2019, was the founding co-director of the PTI and believed in the transformative power of inspiring subject teaching.

The Award has been created to remember Bernice and to promote and celebrate excellence in subject leadership in schools, recognising departments that put quality subject teaching at the heart of the classroom. A £5,000 prize and trophy is awarded annually to an exceptional department which demonstrates the ethos and values of the PTI through their work within and beyond the curriculum.

The History department at Wymondham College reviewed their curriculum to focus on ‘overarching’ and ‘enquiry’ questions and a ‘Story, Source and Scholarship’ approach. Each individual lesson formed an enquiry which fed into the overarching question to be answered at the end of the unit. Noteworthy efforts have also been made to decolonise the History curriculum. The jury were impressed at the History department’s success in broadening their curriculum.

Steven Dye, Head of Department, said: “Broadening our curriculum and providing additional opportunities for learning has allowed students to apply their substantive and disciplinary knowledge of History in new and exciting ways. Students are now able to view events and individuals through different lenses and to progressively build on their understanding of concepts as they advance through the curriculum. Additionally, ‘The Ages’ magazine, visiting speakers and links to local museums, alongside other projects has encouraged our students’ curiosity and independence to explore aspects of history related to their own cultures and identities”.

Carolyn Roberts, Co-Director, The PTI, said: “The PTI is thrilled to announce the History department at Wymondham College as commended for the coveted Bernice McCabe Award. It is crystal clear that the winning, highly commended and commended departments shortlisted are truly passionate and enthusiastic about their respective subjects, which drives everything they do. The work being done in these departments is truly inspiring and will change young people’s lives”.

Professor Steve Munby CBE, Judge, said: “This year the judges were impressed yet again by the skill, passion and powerful subject leadership shown by each department shortlisted. These dedicated departments have gone above and beyond to inspire and enthuse their students in their subject field and the results are phenomenal”.

The £5,000 prize is used to advance the values of the PTI within the winner’s school, to fund release time and travel to visit other schools and disseminate the work which has been recognised by the Award. A trophy awarded to the winner was designed by award winning designer, Sophie Conran and will be passed onto future winners annually.

The judging panel consisted of Professor Steve Munby CBE (Chair of the Teaching Awards Trust), Carolyn Roberts (PTI Co-Director), Rod Mackinnon (Bernice’s husband, former Headteacher, and Education Consultant), Professor Dame Alison Peacock (CEO of the Chartered College) and Professor Helen Cooper (formerly Head of the English Faculty at the University of Cambridge).

For more information visit the Wymondham College website