Eltham College has been awarded the Microsoft Showcase School Award for the third year running by Microsoft and The Secondary Geography Quality Mark Award from the Geographical Association.
The Microsoft Showcase School Award acknowledges the extensive digital learning and teaching that has become integral to the school’s approach.
The Geography Quality Mark awarded by The Geographical Association, the leading subject association for teachers of geography and recognises and promotes quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development and learning and teaching in schools.
Microsoft Showcase Award
Eltham College is one of a small group of schools in the UK that has been recognised by the international technology giant for the third year in succession. Eltham College continues to be as a Microsoft Showcase School 2021-2022 and remains part of an exclusive community of just 325 schools around the world, recognised and celebrated for educational transformation using technology. This includes vision and innovation in teaching, learning and assessment; computational and critical thinking; creativity and collaboration; and a willingness to promote a growth mindset among educators and students.
Head of Design Technology, Maxim Gennari, commented: “We are delighted that we will continue to be a Microsoft Showcase School for another year, and it is very much thanks to the commitment and dedication of our staff who have adopted and embraced the technology.
“As one of only 52 schools in the UK who hold the prestigious title of Showcase School, the accreditation reflects the priority the College places on integrating digital technology into teaching and learning.
“Our parents continue to be impressed by how well our online teaching provision was managed during lockdown and blended learning with students at home and in the classroom.”
Eltham College has, this year, also worked with Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech and mentored and guided them in receiving Showcase School status and the school is keen to continue to work with other schools to help them understand and implement similar teaching practices.
Over the past year, the enormously successful digital strategy, launched by the College and which is based on the Microsoft Office 365 platform, has seen a comprehensive staff training programme
enabling more than 100 staff at the College to become CMIE (Certified Microsoft Innovator Educators) with five now having achieved MIEE (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert) accreditation.
Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft said: “Microsoft Showcase Schools are shining examples of those applying purpose-driven innovation in a variety of ways to build connection, motivate students and to create community in and out of school. These schools are truly transforming learning and providing more personalised education to students, empowering them to achieve more.”
Secondary Geography Quality Mark
The Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM) in 2021 has been awarded by the Geographical Association to a small group of 35 schools both in the UK and internationally and recognises and promotes the quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development, learning and teaching and student attainment in schools.
Making the award, Dr. Rebecca Kitchen, Head of Professional Development at the Geographical Association, said “We are delighted to award Eltham College the Secondary Geography Quality Mark. Their outstanding submission detailed a reflective and thoughtful department where teaching and learning in geography is of the highest quality. We were particularly impressed by the department’s innovative practice and focus on contemporary topics resulting in excellent student knowledge and understanding and would like to offer our congratulations to all involved.”
Paul Angel, Head of Geography, commented: “The Geography department at Eltham College is ambitious and we strive to embrace new ideas and have introduced contemporary topics to make learning enjoyable and memorable. We are looking forward to applying for Centre of Excellence in our future submission.”
Guy Sanderson, Headmaster of Eltham College, praised the teachers and students: “These two recent awards continue to place Eltham College at the forefront of learning and teaching in South East London, they reflect the dedication and skill of our teachers and commitment and hard work of our students. Our teachers at Eltham College go above and beyond inspiring our students to achieve the highest levels of academic excellence in GCSE and A Level results.”
