Chiswick teacher wins prestigious national teaching award

Recognition for exceptional teaching

Bethany Gray, Orchard House School

A Chiswick teacher has won a prestigious national teaching award.

Bethany Gray from Orchard House School has been named a Silver award winner in the category of Teacher of the Year in a Primary School in the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Bethany is a Year 2 form teacher at the Chiswick pre-prep school, who has more than 20 years’ experience across both the state and independent sectors.

Her citation for the awards describes her as:

‘Renowned for her imaginative, immersive teaching and deep pastoral care’, and says she inspires ‘a lifelong love of learning and reading, helping children to grow in confidence, curiosity and character’.

Examples of the creativity she employs to inspire her class are transforming her classroom into the Rio Carnival, and retracing Shackleton’s expedition.

‘Bethany creates memorable moments that deepen pupils’ understanding across the curriculum’.

A passionate advocate for reading, she inspires high-quality literacy through imaginative teaching, personalised recommendations and her much-loved ‘special book library’, nurturing lifelong readers. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, she delivered books to pupils’ homes to ensure children remained connected to learning.

‘Her warmth, dedication and ability to make every pupil feel known enable children to flourish both academically and emotionally’.

Bethany with the award; Orchard House School

Bethany is among 99 outstanding teachers, lecturers, leaders, and support staff honoured as Silver Winners in this year’s awards, in recognition of their dedication and impact.

She will now be in with the chance of winning the Gold award, which will be announced at an awards ceremony in London and on BBC One’s The One Show later this year.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards are run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity established over 25years ago to celebrate the transformative impact of education.

Sir Michael Morpugo; photograph Bryan Ledgard

President of the Trust Sir Michael Morpurgo, former Children’s Laureate, said:

“The dedication and impact of those involved in educating young people is truly remarkable. Their influence extends well beyond the classroom.

“Long before children find their voice, their confidence, or their calling, there is usually a teacher who helped them get there, working patiently and persistently, and often without any recognition at all.

“I am especially proud to congratulate this year’s Silver award winners. In a world that moves quickly and demands so much, you have chosen to invest your time, energy, and passion into future generations, and that is something truly worth celebrating. Thank you for the dedication you show every single day”.