London headteacher wins major award

Sr Hannah Dwyer receives award from Bishop John Sherrington

Sister Hannah Dwyer, Headteacher at Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Hammersmith has been announced as a Silver Teaching Award Winner in the category: The Award for Lifetime Achievement

Selected from over 20,000 nominations received by the Pearson Teaching Awards in 2014, Sr Hannah’s is one of just 55 celebrations which will took place in schools and colleges across England, Ireland and Wales on Thank a Teacher Day, 16 May 2014, when prestigious Silver Pearson Teaching Awards were presented to outstanding local heroes of education.

Sr Hannah was surprised with the award during an assembly at the school. Bishop John Sherrington, Auxiliary Bishop and Chairman of the Westminster Diocese Education Service, presented Sr Hannah with the award. During the ceremony, Bishop Sherrington spoke about Sr Hannah's influence on her pupils: "Sr Hannah's strong sense of her personal vocation has led her to give years of dedicated service. In her 35 years of teaching, she has instilled in her pupils the importance of discovering their own unique sense of purpose and doing all they can to live that vocation.

"Sr Hannah, through her years of dedication and vocation to teaching and learning and to Catholic leadership, has enabled thousands of children to develop their God-given gifts and become the people God wishes them to be. It is a wonderful achievement that through Catholic education so many seeds are sown which bear fruit in the future. I also wish to acknowledge Sr Hannah’s important contribution to the work of the Westminster Education Commission which has oversight for strategy in the diocese."

Described as ‘an educational force of nature’, Sr Hannah is a Headteacher whose knowledge and understanding of how children learn and what they need to succeed is unparalleled. Her outstanding career spans over 35 years, 23 of those as a Headteacher. She took on the role of Head at Larmenier RC Infants’ School in 1991 and in 2002, was asked to merge the school with Sacred Heart RC Junior School. She took up this huge challenge which came with the task of raising £7 million to fund a new building. Of course, the new school was a great success and has gone from strength to strength.

Underpinning all her exceptional talents is her tremendous enthusiasm, kindness and her belief in the potential of each and every child. She supports parents, colleagues and children alike and is truly at the centre of her whole school community. It is with great sadness that the school community says goodbye to Sr. Hannah, on her retirement this year. Her legacy is an exceptional school but closer to her heart, the thousands of children who have enjoyed the best possible start in life.

Dominic McGonigal, Chair of Governors at Larmenier and Sacred Heart said: "The first thing I noticed about Sr Hannah is her deep interest in the children. From the moment they arrive in Nursery or Reception, right through the school and beyond. In fact, we have a constant stream of former pupils coming back to the school because Sr Hannah inspired them 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. I am so pleased that her dedication and constant striving for excellence has been recognised by the Pearson Teaching Awards."

The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers and teaching, founded in 1999 by Lord Puttnam. They recognise the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach.

Sr Hannah will now join fellow Silver Award winners at the UK final of the Teaching Awards at London’s Guildhall on 26th October, where 10 Silver Award winners will receive a Gold Award. The ceremony will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC.

Source: Archbishops' House