Depute Head at Stirling High, Alan Hamilton, was presented with the ‘Best Educator 2018’
accolade on Tuesday night from Founders4Schools at a ceremony in London.
Founders4Schools is an award-winning charity dedicated to improving employment prospects for young people aged 6-24 years, by connecting them with business leaders, closing the skills gap that holds back economic growth.
The education organisation’s annual awards celebrated role models in communities who have gone above and beyond to connect young people of all backgrounds. The four award categories attracted nominations from the length and breadth of the UK.
Alan Hamilton, Depute Head Teacher, Stirling High School, and winner of the Educator Award said: “I’m very passionate about getting business leaders into local schools, but I soon found that you can very quickly exhaust your own contacts.
“I started using and sharing the Founders4Schools platform just over a year ago, and this has allowed us to introduce so many new business leaders into the school so that we can start building new relationships with them.
“We’ve now got a key mentoring programme with some of our girls studying computer science as a direct result of just one of our encounters, and we’ve got work experience and work placements lined up as a result of other encounters.
“This is greatly benefiting our young people and teaching them two key messages - it’s all about learning new skills, and there’s no wrong path to your future career.”
Councillor Susan McGill, Convener of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “We are delighted to be working with Founders4Schools, which is one of the many innovative ways we are expanding the opportunities for young people in Stirling.
“This award is fantastic recognition for the staff at the Stirling High, and the hard work being put in to inspire the next generation to achieve their potential and enter the workplace. A huge congratulations to everyone at the school on this well-deserved accolade.
“I know Stirling High and all the schools participating in this initiative have reported huge benefits, and by continuing to engage with Founders4Schools, we can continue to raise the bar of aspiration for our young people.”
Councillor Margaret Brisley, Vice Convener of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “Everyone at Stirling High should be proud at receiving this prestigious award which highlights the dedication of staff in inspiring young people to be the best they can be.
“Inviting business leaders into our classrooms to share their experiences ensures young people in Stirling understand the skills required in their future careers and are better equipped to grasp the exciting opportunities available to them in the workplace.
“This accolade for Stirling High shows that our exciting partnership with Founders4Schools is proving a real success story in helping prepare young people for the world of work.”
The awards ceremony followed a Founders4Schools event at The Francis Crick Institute to celebrate Ada Lovelace Day. This drew together nearly 200 students from participating schools in the City of London and Camden aged 12 to 16, enjoying inspiring talks from a diverse group of women in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths).
Sherry Coutu CBE, Founder and Chairman of Founders4Schools, said: “Founders4Schools’ mission as a charity is to connect today’s young people to leaders in their community to solve tomorrow’s problems.
“We would not be able to help communities address their skills gap without the hard work and dedication of educators, curious students, and passionate business leaders who are leading the way.
“Together, our thriving network has supported around 216,000 young people to date. Having brokered more than 655,000 student-employee encounters means that on average, these pupils have met at least three business leaders in their community to date.
“These crucial encounters empower young people across the country to make better-informed decisions about their futures within the current curriculum and funding envelopes.”
Note: Picture shows Stirling High Depute Head, Alan Hamilton with his Best Educator 2018 Award