e-Tameside Awards 2006
e-Tameside Awards
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The e-Tameside Awards celebrates the innovation and dynomism of ICT in Tameside.
Text Only Version
Introduction by Dianne Oxberry
Welcome to the 7th Annual e-Tameside Awards. Tonight we celebrate both the heritage of Ashton in this stunning location, the Town Hall, which dates back to 1874, and the cutting edge creativity of the area in awards which celebrate business, education and many other fields. These awards are hotly contested, it is always a great evening and it's just about to begin.
Dianne Oxberry
Looking forward to the evening?
Councillor Andrew Gwynne
Very much so it's always a highlight of the calendar in Tameside the e-Tameside. Awards and I think tonight's going to be a good night again.
Dianne Oxberry
It just seems that every year people get more inventive, they get more creative.
Councillor Gwynne
That's right and I think Tameside is a special place. We've got so much creativity and I think this is a great way of showcasing that throughout the Borough.
Lee Turner - Fluid Creativity
It's always important for us for the type of work that we do so it's nice to get recognised for the work and it's good for the staff as well.
Dianne Oxberry
And what do you reckon your chances are this evening?
Lee Turner
I don't know because I don't know who we're up against so depending who we're up against.
Dianne Oxberry
But you're confident of your product.
Lee Turner
Pretty much yeah.
Dianne Oxberry
Well have a good evening.
Lee Turner
Thank you very much.
Dianne Oxberry
This evening in particular is a real highlight of the calendar isn't it
Janet Callender - Chief Executive
Oh absolutely, I mean I think you know we really pride ourselves on using technology the way we work and the way we transform our services and you'll see around you there's so many excited people who've been using technology either through their schools or through their work or in their leisure time so it's great to have so many people here and actually to have the sponsors here who actually every year come and look after us and sponsor our awards so yes fabulous.
Dianne Oxberry
How do you continue to be innovative in terms of ICT in schools?
Brian Harkins - Russell Scott Primary School
Well we kind of consider ourselves cutting edge. We look for ways in, ways that the children are interested, what children are doing at home we need to bring into the classroom like Podcasts, animation, and make it creative and enjoyable for kids.
Dianne Oxberry
This is all big stuff Podcasts, animation, isn't it?
Brian Harkins
It is, it's the future it's what the children are doing. We need to be in there with them.
Dianne Oxberry
So it's only people like me who are scared of this stuff.
Brian Harkins
(laughs) No need to be frightened, just get your hands on it's great.
Dianne Oxberry
Well have a good evening and we wish you lots of luck again.
Brian Harkins
Thank you very much.
Dianne Oxberry
Just remind us of where you work and what you do.
Adam Walker and Phil Steels, Guide Bridge Theatre
Guide Bridge Theatre and the award is for the Best Voluntary Group Website.
Dianne Oxberry
And to be recognised twice in the past, to be recognised for the third time you're going to have to be doing something a little bit different this year.
Guide Bridge Theatre
Yeah maybe the changes that people see you know that we put forward the different information, the added information it's obviously it's making some sort of difference so.
Dianne Oxberry
You look incredibly glamorous.
Janet Howard, Russell Scott Primary School
Thank you.
Dianne Oxberry
In a wonderful setting, are you here as a nominee, as a supporter, as a sponsor?
Janet Howard
As a supporter for our school.
Dianne Oxberry
And who are you supporting?
Janet Howard
Craig Etchells our ICT Co-ordinator.
Dianne Oxberry
We hear so much good about Craig.
Janet Howard
He's fabulous, very talented yeah. He brings a lot of stuff into our school.
Dianne Oxberry
What does he bring to the school?
Janet Howard
Just his ability to do things with the children, he lets the children get involved, brings a whole new meaning to ICT for the school and it's really nice to just get involved.
Dianne Oxberry
And the school was very successful last year.
Janet Howard
Yes.
Dianne Oxberry
What are your hopes for this year?
Janet Howard
More success.
Dianne Oxberry
How do you use technology to further the business of a restaurant?
Nahim Aslam & Rashad Hussain - Indian Ocean
There's quite a lot you can do I mean at the moment we're using an online ordering system to get to Tameside and use postcodes so there's quite a lot that we've got in mind for the future as well but this is the first and early stages of technology. It's about getting people educated only at first and then move forward.
Dianne Oxberry
How have the staff taken to this innovation?
Indian Ocean
They don't have to take any orders anymore, it's brilliant, they're absolutely loving it. I think what it does is the orders that are coming through they're more consistent because it's going direct to the kitchen where they prepare the order and it goes out so there's no mistakes in writing you know over the phone there's no mistakes in taking the telephone number or the address or the name of the guests so everything flows you know everything flows quickly.
Dianne Oxberry
It seems quite a brave innovation but when you explain it it's really obviously isn't it and it is going to make a difference.
Indian Ocean
It's simple, very simple.
Dianne Oxberry
Those are quite often the winning ideas aren't they the simple ideas? What do you reckon your chances are tonight?
Indian Ocean
We'll see how it goes. We're very optimistic. Very, very optimistic.
Dianne Oxberry
Well Phil Swan first time sponsor of these Awards. Why did you want to be a sponsor?
Phil Swan, Aperia - Sponsor
Well there are so many good things going on in Tameside at the moment. Tameside are leading across the north west in the Centre of Excellence and the Government group, on the regional improvement partnership thinking. You look at the award they just got this week from the CPA in terms of four star Authority and improving strongly and I think I'm right in saying they're the only one in the country or only one in the north west and one of eight in the country so we're keen to you know be associated with Tameside and we've been doing some good work with them over the last sort of three years or so. It's nice to be involved and nice to support it and it's a great community here as well.
Dianne Oxberry
One of the things that does stand out is the creativity, the innovation.
Phil Swan
Yes.
Dianne Oxberry
What can you put that down to? Because it really is a hot bed isn't it?
Phil Swan
It is and I think well it's probably a few things. One of the things they've got a very strong people structure well I'm talking about people within the Council but there's a hugely strong you know sense of purpose, sense of identity, sense of what's the expression they use - I'm pleased but not satisfied - now that's where they're pushing from but I mean in you know Tameside as a whole I think people see the area going up, the new IKEA and it kind of gives them a lift and makes them think yeah we should do more.
Dianne Oxberry
Well dinner has just been called, everyone's walking upstairs to that wonderful room and then we get down to the business. Twelve awards this evening, lots of anticipation in this room we'll find out who wins them in a moment.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Good evening everyone. Welcome to Ashton Town Hall for this 2006 e-Tameside Awards. Madam Mayor, Member of Parliament, Executive Leader, Members of the Council, Distinguished Guests and Ladies and Gentlemen on behalf of Councillor Margaret Oldham and myself Martyn Torr, welcome to the 2006 e-Tameside Awards.
Video Presentation - Music: 'Get Ready' by The Temptations.
Applause.
The first of the awards we're presenting this evening are for Innovation in ICT but before we get onto the first of tonight's presentations will you please welcome on stage for the very lovely Dianne Oxberry.
Applause.
I'm sure you all recognise Dianne from that other station not Tameside TV. For these innovation awards this evening the team are looking for evidence of schemes of projects that have been created and the way technology has been used to deliver or support its objectives. Innovation's not easy to define or prescribe therefore we have to take a wide range of ideas and projects with different areas and backgrounds, some small, some large, others complex and some simple - bit like me really. The first of the awards tonight is The Most Innovative Use of ICT in a Primary School sponsored by Espresso, which is the third year running for them sponsoring these awards. Would you please welcome up to the stage, Jean Rowton.
Applause.
Being Innovative and creative is something we're good at here in Tameside. Evidence from previous winners of the awards is testament to that. Last year, a digital animation project by Russell Scott Primary School scooped the award but this year the winning entrant is really different. I'm going to invite Jean now to open the envelope and tell us the winner's name.
Jean Rowton
The winner of the Most Innovative Use of ICT in a Primary School is Manor Green Primary School.
Applause.
Music - Cloud Nine by The Temptations.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The second award this evening is for The Most Innovative Use of ICT in a Secondary School or College. This is being sponsored by Thus. Their representative tonight is Sarah Wilde.
Applause.
It's a full house for us this evening. The seventh successive year they have supported the awards although in the previous six years they were known as Your Communications. Secondary schools can be a challenging environment to work in and teach in, and as the questionably lovely little darlings, hormone-free and even tempered teenagers. I'm sure you all recognise that description. As any parent with a teenage will know, keeping them interested and engaged without using iPods and mobile phones is not easy that is why it's so important to us ICT as a way of communicating and making learning enjoyable and interesting and fun.
Sarah Wilde
The winner of the Most Innovative Use of ICT in a Secondary School is Copley High School.
Applause - Music - I Want You Back by The Jackson Five
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Copley High School won this award for their online weather station which provides information on local weather every ten minutes along with information on temperature, humidity, wind speed and one hundred and one other metrological data, it also has a web camera and you can see it raining again.
The third award this evening is the Most Innovative Use of ICT in a local business. This is being sponsored by the e-Business Team. Many of you will know tonight I'm sure if you've worked with the e-Business Team they provide businesses of Tameside with help and advice on using their ICT systems. Here to represent the team and present the award tonight is the Executive Leader of Tameside Council, Councillor Roy Oldham.
Applause.
Councillor Roy Oldham - Executive Leader Of The Council
The winner of the Most Innovative Use of ICT in a Local Business is Indian Ocean Restaurant
Applause.
Music: I Heard it on the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
Dianne Oxberry
You've been recognised for quite a few things you've really managed to engage parents and you've really managed to do a tough thing which is to inspire children in maths!
Manor Green Primary School - Winner Of The Award - Most Innovative Use Of Ict In A Primary School
Yes well with the parents we felt the parents in our area a lot of them haven't got computers they can't afford them so we engaged them in school. They actually join in with lessons and Paul actually runs the lessons.
We try to start from the Nursery end and bring parents in from Nursery and Reception because whether it's due to computers they did come on really quickly and the parents are really, really surprised at how well we do so it's been really, really successful.
Dianne Oxberry
And the maths?
Manor Green Primary School
Well we've done a project with The Royal Society and it's to do with fractions and it's really you know sort of our more able children and they've produced a computer programme specially based on the research. Our children did so we're really, really pleased with that.
Dianne Oxberry
But you must be delighted at what you are doing having such an impact on the community, not just the children the parents and their carers as well.
Manor Green Primary School
Yes because I mean in our area we have some parents have problems and the fact that they've been able to escape from those problems in an ICT lesson with the children. When the nursery children, who are only three years old, say to the parents “Mummy look what I can do” and actually show them how to use a mouse and you know how to engage in the computer skills that Paul's actually led.
For the parents in school we're trying to get community licences for the software so that they can have a got at home so they know what the children are doing and that's from Nursery right up to Year Six.
Dianne Oxberry
Well for everything you've achieved this year congratulations.
Manor Green Primary School
Thank you very much, thank you.
Dianne Oxberry
Well from the big smiles on that stage you looked like you were really pleased with this award.
Copley High School - Winner Of The Award - Most Innovative Use Of Ict In A Secondary School
Yeah we are we're very pleased and we greatly appreciate it.
Dianne Oxberry
It's really difficult to inspire the older children isn't it?
Copley High School
It is yeah and we tried to do something that would inspire them and something that'd be novel really something that was new and that nobody else had done. There's only a few in the country if you look on the schools' websites and we thought it was quite unique.
Dianne Oxberry
It is a wonderful opportunity for people to be able to jump onto the website and look at what your weather station offers. Why does that in particular really inspire kids?
Copley High School
Because we've used it in a range of subjects, we've used it in Geography, we've used it in a research project with Manchester University on asthma where they came in and did some work with the kids on asthma and we've also used it with primary schools as well and we've also got a webcam on there as well, we've got video footage of the moor fires last year so you can actually see the fire spreading across the moor so it makes it really interesting.
Dianne Oxberry
And I can see that you personally are really buoyed up by that project.
Copley High School
Yes we were - it started off as a small thing but it's gradually grown and it's become quite interesting, very interesting.
Dianne Oxberry
And I suppose the moral of the story is aim high and see what you can achieve.
Copley High School
Yeah there's nothing to stop you achieving it if you want to.
Dianne Oxberry
What your innovation offers is something which benefits both the customer and the staff doesn't it, it's a win-win situation.
Indian Ocean
Of course yeah I mean it saves a lot of time for the staff, no adding up, no writing or anything and with the kitchen staff as well they can read the printer writing better than the waiter's writing yeah.
Dianne Oxberry
But also for the customer at home they get the time they need to make their decisions don't they?
Indian Ocean
And search the curries so they know exactly what they're buying so nobody's rushing you and they've got all the time in the world to choose and send it off and pay for it as well.
Dianne Oxberry
Does it amaze you that more people haven't gone down this road?
Indian Ocean
Definitely. It's a start it is a start and I mean we started off doing this so you know there won't be a long time before they follow the pursuit it's basically somebody actually initiating it and then if people come up that's a good idea everybody wants to do it and you know we want to share it with other people as well how it's done.
With curry it's hard starting it but once it gets going people jump on board.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The second clutch or gaggle or session or whatever the collective noun is for awards are websites and we have five awards to present in this section of the evening. This category has seen without doubt the most staggering improvement in the seven years we've been doing these awards. When we started in 1999 we were hard pressed indeed to find main websites to judge never mind the plethora we have these days. Today they are well designed, have functionality and they are rich in content. The quality of tonight's winning sites are testament to the Internet and how it's going to influence our lives and revolutionise the way we shop and use it to communicate and even spend our leisure time.
For the fourth award this evening is going to be for the best Primary School Website I'd like to welcome on stage once again Dianne.
Applause.
I'd like to invite the sponsor from Cable & Wireless now this is the first time they've sponsored us and they can't be with us this evening but we have a very able stand-in in Janet Callender, the Chief Executive of Tameside Council.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
In this category we were looking for a website that was well put together with an eye-catching design and good use of colour. We wanted a site that catered for all stakeholders in the schools, kids, teachers, parents and governors.
Janet Callender
The winner of the Best Primary School Website is St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School.
Music: Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The fifth award of the night is for Best Secondary School or College Website. Once again this award is sponsored by Cable & Wireless and because they're not here we have a very able deputy in the Civic Mayor of Tameside Councillor Margaret Sidebottom.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
In this category the judges are looking for a site which is designed to appeal to a slightly older audience than the previous award but in the same way that the larger British websites we expect to see more functionality and depth than with their smaller businesses. So we want to look for richer content, innovative functionality and more use of different mediums such as video.
The Civic Mayor Of Tameside - Councillor Margaret Sidebottom
The winner of the Best Secondary School or College Website is Tameside College.
Applause
Music: Nowhere to Run by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Our sixth award this evening is for Best Small Medium Business Website. This is being sponsored by Brother. It's the second time they have done this with us and tonight we are very fortunate to have with us Phil Jones the Marketing & Sales Director.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
As I said earlier, in a very short period of time, websites have become established as a primary route to market for many types of business. We are all aware that many of us are experienced at using the Internet to book our holidays, to buy car insurance, even do the weekly shop but for a smaller business which doesn't have the same high street presence or levels of market penetration that larger companies enjoy, their websites are increasingly vital to help with promotion, awareness raising and opening new markets to us here and abroad. Phil is going to tell us the winner.
Phil Jones, Brother
Thank you Martyn, on behalf of all the staff of Brother UK the winner of the Best Small Medium Website is Fluid Creativity.
Applause.
Music: My Girl by The Temptations
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The seventh award this evening is the Best Large Business Website and this is being sponsored by 'Thus' once again and please welcome back Sarah Wilde.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The process and criteria for judging this category were very different from the previous awards. Whilst the same business requirements relating to publicity and accessibility to a new market applies to both, the judges were conscious that a larger organisation would have more resources to invest in the development side and as a result were expecting more functionality, better presentation and accessibility.
Sarah Wilde - Thus
The winner of the Best Large Business Website is Meridian Healthcare.
Applause.
Music: You Can't Hurry Love - Diana Ross and the Supremes
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The eighth award of the evening is the Best Voluntary Local Interest Group Website sponsored by Aperia Government Services. This is the first time they have been with us and their representative is Phil Swan.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Phil's glad to get out this evening because he's just become a brand new father. Well done.
Cheers and applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
In this category the judges were looking for a website which epitomised what their organisation is all about. What amazed the judges was that even though in many cases these sites were developed and maintained by gifted amateurs in many cases the standard was comparable with sites developed and managed by professional web designers. The winner of the Best Local Voluntary or Interest Group is.
Phil Swan - Aperia
Indeed the winner of the Best Voluntary/Local Interest Group Website is Guide Bridge Theatre.
Applause.
Music: What's Goin' On? by Marvin Gaye
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
This is the third year these guys have won this award, it's a huge achievement but they have not 'rested on their laurels'. Each year the site gets better and better with more functionality, quizzes, seat reservation, to virtual tours, to the Q Sheet newsletter. If the shows they put on at the theatre are as professional and well designed as the website then the audiences are in for a real treat. Well done to Guide Bridge Theatre three years running.
Applause.
Dianne Oxberry
Best Large Business Website that is a heck of an accolade, how does it feel?
Meridian Healthcare
Fantastic. Pretty good. Yeah it's a big thank you for all the hard work that we've put in to keep the site up to date both on the HR side for job vacancies and for news.
Dianne Oxberry
It just has that wonderful mix of great stories and great opportunities for people doesn't it?
Meridian Healthcare
Yes I guess it does. I mean we're a people business that's what we're about. The most important asset of course is our people and Joanne looks after things, recruitment of all the carers and on the marketing side Hannah and I look after the news and make sure that information about what's going on in the care homes is kept up to date and people hear about our residents and the activities that they are doing.
Dianne Oxberry
So all you have learned pays off this evening. How will the rest of your people feel when you tell them about the award?
Meridian Healthcare
Well I've sent them a text (laughter)
Dianne Oxberry
That's technology for you
Meridian Healthcare
And it'll be on the website hopefully on Monday.
Dianne Oxberry
Well two years in a row that's fantastic.
Tameside College
Brilliant, fantastic news for us for Tameside College, excellent, excellent result.
Dianne Oxberry
How have you continued to improve year upon year, what have you done?
Tameside College
I think we've put news stories, of course success stories for the young people, success stories for well for all our learners really. Also we've got the sites for employers now built in, new business college, it's just wonderful it goes from strength to strength. I mean the judges mentioned the video, we've got the college video online and the judges mentioned that so that's something new we've put on this year. All the course information going on continually updated, old information taken off and new information. Virtual tours we've got a lot of people looking at virtual tours you can have a look around various areas of the college online. It's a really it's really a fantastic achievement for Tameside College tonight it's brilliant.
Dianne Oxberry
Well your business is supporting other businesses, so it's not just your technical skills that you're rewarded for tonight is it?
Fluid Creativity
No it's a brilliant accolade for us for obviously we develop a lot of the sites that have won in the past and to achieve it ourselves is a really good accolade and obviously it's testament to the staff and the skills that we've got in-house.
Dianne Oxberry
Well you gave a big shout you know to the Internet because the Internet is the future for so many businesses. It's a young industry and it's really nice to see young guys like yourselves you're pushing it all the way.
Fluid Creativity
Yeah I'm not that young now I've just got a baby girl who's eleven months so I probably look like about forty as opposed to thirty-one but never mind. It's absolutely fantastic, the Internet's an amazing medium for generating revenue for business. And a lot of ours are obviously using the Internet to generate that revenue now so it's great, it's fantastic.
Dianne Oxberry
So how do you improve for next year?
Fluid Creativity
There's always room for improvement. We're actually launching version three of our website at the moment because we're just moving to larger offices, we've got nine staff now and we're due to expand in the summer so there's a hell of a lot of room for improvement and hopefully it will do for next year so.
Dianne Oxberry
Well you've done it you've got your hat-trick how does it feel?
Guide Bridge Theatre
Wonderful yeah, absolutely great isn't it? Yeah. We were surprised last year when we got it twice but this year to get it three times just amazed, obviously doing something right.
Dianne Oxberry
Well what are you doing right, what has changed from last year to this year?
Guide Bridge Theatre
We've just added a bit more historical content from last year, corrected things, just keep it active more up to date with more events going on, more photographs etcetera.
Dianne Oxberry
Ten years ago if people wanted to know what was going on at the theatre they rang up and somebody told them, how the world has changed.
Guide Bridge Theatre
Oh hasn't it just, yeah. It makes everything a lot more available doesn't it you know, you get a much more bigger audience in and it's really good, it's a great publicity tool for us.
Dianne Oxberry
But it also gives people from outside an insight into what goes on in the theatre because you have newsletters, people can find out about castings, people can find out about meetings, it really is a tool for access isn't if?
Guide Bridge Theatre
Yes they just go on whenever they want and just find out what they want to find out you know, if rehearsals have been cancelled due to bad weather the producer lets us know, we put it on the website, you know people can just find out from there. We've got it now with mobile phones as well so you can get basic information on your mobile, it's just like what the current play is, what's coming up next, when the next dress rehearsals are and auditions.
Dianne Oxberry
You're just showing off now aren't you?
Guide Bridge Theatre
Just keep pushing it forward (laughter)
Dianne Oxberry
That's what you're here for, congratulations.
Guide Bridge Theatre
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Dianne Oxberry
Big congratulations to St. Mary's. How does it feel?
St. Mary's Rc Primary School - Winner Of The Award - Best Primary School Website
Thank you we're absolutely delighted that we've won the award, really thrilled.
Dianne Oxberry
Is it a surprise?
St. Mary's Rc Primary School
It is a surprise, it's absolute delight as well but Karen's put an awful lot of hard work into the award
Dianne Oxberry
Well Karen what makes a successful website?
St. Mary's Rc Primary School
A lot of people are involved, an awful lot of people because right from the children who know what they want to have on it and the staff who are all prepared to dig in and put some stuff on it with a bit of nudging and encouragement and I have spent time looking at other people's websites and as a parent as well at my own children's website I think about what people actually want to see when they go on the web.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
These awards now are for individuals who have through their jobs or personal ambition contributed to the successful use of ICT as a learning tool regardless of whether in a school, college or learning centre or in a community. As these awards recognise individual achievement, can we ask that only the winner comes to the stage to collect the award. The ninth award tonight is for ICT Technician Support Assistant of the Year sponsored by Ashton Sixth Form College for the fourth time and their representative tonight is Geoff Higgins.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Now Geoff is the Principal of Ashton Sixth Form College (cheers from the audience) and has been to every single one of our awards evenings. A little bird tells me that he's going to retire this year is that correct Geoff?
Aw from the audience.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
You know what you're all doing, the students do but we don't. ICT Technicians and Support Assistants play a vital role in ensuring that technology keeps working and meeting the ever increasing demands that are placed on ICT systems by all our organisations. Often the unsung heroes, they're only noticed when things have gone wrong, like my guys at the back, and they need to fix it. Their work behind the scenes is vital to keep the ICT bandwagon on the road and the winner is.
Geoff Higgins
And the winner of the ICT Technician and Support Assistant of the Year is Craig Etchells.
Cheers and applause.
Music: Going to a Go-Go by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
The tenth award for the evening is the ICT Teacher of the Year sponsored by Gaia Technologies. It's their first time here and we have with us Annas Mallah. where are you?
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Every year at this stage of the awards I tell everyone what a much maligned and misunderstood profession teaching is, but here in Tameside we have some of the best rates of improvement to the contrary for educational excellence attainment. With the onset of the Borough's Building Schools for the Future programme, ICT will become ever more central to the way our children are taught in our schools. This means that the role teachers play in championing and embracing ICT across all spectrums of the curriculum is crucial. Let's find out who our winner is.
Annas Mallah - Gaia Technologies
The winner of the ICT Teacher of the Year is Sandra Taylor.
Cheers and applause.
Music: For Once in my Life by Stevie Wonder
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Sandra has clearly got some very good supporters there and we don't know why. We come now to the penultimate award of the night the New Starter of the Year sponsored by Xerox another full house. Xerox have also been with us for every one of our seven awards evenings. Please welcome Tony Molyneux.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
And we all know how difficult and daunting it can be to take on a new challenge in life so with this award we wanted to recognise someone who has not only successfully grasped the opportunity that learning through ICT could offer but also gives something back to the community. Let's find out who are New Starter of the Year is.
Tony Molyneux - Xerox
The winner of the New Starter of the Year is Mark Fletcher.
Cheers and applause.
Music: Brick House by The Commodores
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
We come now to our final award of the evening for the Lifelong Learner of the Year sponsored this year by Clicks and Links, with us for the first time as sponsors. Will you please welcome Vic Summer.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
Every year this award seems to highlight a great example of an individual whose experience and dedication has brought inspiration and hope to many who know them and this year is no different. Overcoming difficult challenges that life has thrown up but demonstrating that through sheer determination with the support of others you can triumph over diversity. Let's find out who are Lifelong Learner of the Year is.
Vic Summer - Clicks And Links
Winner of Lifelong Learner of the Year award is Shelly Wright.
Cheers and applause.
Music: All Night Long by Lionel Ritchie
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
I'm sure Shelly won't mind me telling you all she's recently been successful in completing her computer literacy and IT certificate. CLAIT is a nationally recognised qualification in using computers. Shelly has achieved this despite being diagnosed with dyslexia after leaving school. It made her early academic progress more difficult and challenging. She's now working towards further enhancing her skills and hoping to complete her CLAIT diploma in the near future. Ladies and Gentlemen we've come to the end of the awards for this year, but not the end of the entertainment. Before I bring the band on if you'd like to thank on my behalf my wonderful assistant Dianne.
Applause.
Martyn Torr - Master Of Ceremonies
I'm going to ask you please thank our judges who have given their own time freely and thanks to all of you coming here this evening it's been great fun, great entertainment and it isn't over yet so thank you all for being here.
Applause.
Dianne Oxberry
Always interested in the technical side the minute you walk the door you've got your eye on the camera.
Craig Etchells - Winner Of The Award - Ict Technician And Support Assistant Of The Year
That's what IT's all about, it's about I think the most important part about IT in the school is learning about IT and being able to pass it on to the pupils because it's all pupil-centred learning and if we don't get that bit right then there's no point doing any IT.
Dianne Oxberry
But your knowledge needs to be so current and cutting edge because we know that older kids are really into the technology themselves.
Craig Etchells
Yeah you've got to be ahead of it, you've got to encourage people that are not into it, you've got to show them the possibilities an encourage them to take a bite and have a go.
Dianne Oxberry
You said an interesting thing about encouraging people who are not into it, how do you do that in a school?
Craig Etchells
Well, unlike any other subject, IT itself is very engaging so it tends to be a little bit easier with smartboards and all the software that's available today and all the websites that are about today that makes it a lot easier.
Dianne Oxberry
Another very good year for your school.
Craig Etchells
Yeah Russell Scott come back again yeah. We work hard, we always set to the highest standards our standards are above average standard that's what we aim for.
Dianne Oxberry
Well congratulations to you Sandra but these awards were for individual achievement yet you went straight out there and handed it back to your colleagues you know really talking about the support that you receive in your job.
Sandra Taylor - Winner Of The Award - Ict Technician Of The Year
That's right, without my colleagues I wouldn't be able to do my job. My job's e-Learning Manager and that is to encourage e-learning within the college so all I do is ask them to do things for me and they go away and do it.
Dianne Oxberry
Not as easy as that we all know it's not as easy as that, how do you motivate people?
Sandra Taylor
I don't really know (laughs) I just ask them to do things. I show them the benefits and I'll try it first and if I can't do it then I won't ask anyone else to do it.
Dianne Oxberry
How does it feel to be recognised in this way this evening?
Sandra Taylor
I'm shocked (laughs), I really am I didn't expect this I've been sat there all night saying it won't be me, it won't be me because I just do my job.
Dianne Oxberry
But obviously it means a great deal to the school to have somebody like you on the staff.
Sandra Taylor
I think so I hope so, I know it does to my students, my students I've got to go and see one tomorrow and tell him whether I've won or not because they're so excited and they went round telling everyone their teacher was nominated for Teacher of the Year because they think it's great.
Dianne Oxberry
Well not just nominated you're now the winner, congratulations.
Sandra Taylor
Thanks very much.
Dianne Oxberry
Well it's been a long evening but it's been worth the wait for you hasn't it?
Mark Fletcher, Winner Of The Award - New Starter Of The Year
It has indeed.
Dianne Oxberry
Tell me how you feel.
Mark Fletcher
Quite elated you know I'm quite happy I was very nervous coming up there but I think it paid off in the end, didn't even drop it
Dianne Oxberry
But it's all about the work that you've put in in the last year and what you've managed to offer to other people. How do you motivate other people, and why do you feel it's important to give your time to do that?
Mark Fletcher
Well I've given my time it's basically what I've learned you know I'm just trying to pass it on to other people basically to show by example especially with the ICT, the maths that I help out with as well and it's just encouraging and it's the buzz that I get from the enlightenment of other people you know when they say “Oh now I see how to do it” I think it's great.
Dianne Oxberry
You've got to have great technical skills but you've also got to have great personal skills in your line of work haven't you?
Mark Fletcher
Well you've got to be happy, you've got to be jovial, you've just got to be able to get on with everyone and I think that's the main thing behind it all really.
Dianne Oxberry
Well you're testament to the fact that learning never stops, it doesn't does it?
Shelly Wright - Winner Of The Award - Lifelong Learner Of The Year
No it doesn't, I feel like I've only just begun so I just feel that I want to learn more and more and I'm enjoying it so much.
Dianne Oxberry
But that wasn't always true of you was it, you didn't always enjoy the process of learning?
Shelly Wright
No a lot of the time, I didn't realise I was dyslexic when I was younger at school and a lot of my teachers wrote me off and said I'd never achieve anything. I've definitely proved them wrong now.
Dianne Oxberry
Where did you get the bravery to start again, where did that come from?
Shelly Wright
I saw an advert on the TV the one with the funny characters about learning to spell and maths and I thought well because my son was growing up I thought well I don't want, I want to learn. I want you know to get rid of those fears so I went and got tested and I found out I was dyslexic and it was a massive weight off my shoulders to know that I can learn, I just learn a different way from everybody else.
Dianne Oxberry
So the door for you has now been completely opened hasn't it?
Shelly Wright
Yeah. Well I'm going to learn how to build computers, I want to learn photography, when I finish my diploma I want to do a CLAIT Plus so I just really enjoy, and with my English I've joined a reading group so everything's just expanded so it's absolutely fantastic.
Music: Reflections by Diana Ross and the Supremes
Dianne Oxberry
So, twelve awards honouring twelve very worthy winners. Tonight we have celebrated the best use of technology in business, in leisure, in education and in personal development. We've heard some inspiring stories and if it's inspired you to aim high you never know we might see you next year at the e-Tameside awards.
Music: Heaven Must Have Sent You - vocal group on stage.