Liverpool Hearts Project

Inspirational partnership of schools honoured at the Pearson National Teaching Awards

The team from the Liverpool HEARTS Project has been selected from thousands of nominations to win a Pearson National Teaching Silver Award.

 

They were honoured with a Silver Award for Impact Through Partnership for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day. 

 

The Liverpool HEARTS Project is a collaboration consisting of Hope School, Virtual School Liverpool, Changing Minds Child and Family Services UK and The University of Chester.

 

 

The idea was developed to build the capacity of Liverpool schools to address the critical issues of attachment and trauma for the benefit of the whole learning community.

 

Hope school is a maintained special school for 68 children aged 5-11 with SEMH needs based in Liverpool that has committed to supporting children with complex trauma histories and attachment disruptions.

 

It is recognised locally and nationally as a hub of excellence. Hope School believed in sharing beyond our own institution to better outcomes and enhance the lives of communities across Liverpool.

 

The idea for wider collaboration with the local authority, through Liverpool Virtual school, was to share this expertise and create capacity to support pupils and improve inclusion for all pupils.

 

The HEARTs project was piloted beginning in January 2021 with 10 schools initially:

• The Belvedere Academy
• The Academy of St Francis of Assisi
• The Academy of St Nicholas
• St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School
• Windsor Primary School
• Mab Lane Primary School
• Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School
• Anfield Road Primary School
• Gwladys Street Primary School, and
• Broad Square Primary School.

 

Early indications are positive and there is clear evidence that the project is having a positive impact and supporting further development of inclusive practice.

 

Each school setting is bringing value, taking on board training, researching specific elements of practice and benefitting from the wider support available through the project.

 

The Liverpool HEARTS Project has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards, which will be announced and celebrated at a gala ceremony in London on 25 November and televised on the BBC, with winners showcased on The One Show.

 

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity now in its 25th year, that recognises the life-changing work that takes place in education, highlighting the vital role educators play and the work that’s delivered in schools and colleges every day.