'The future of every child rests on our ability to invest every resource we have into building the kind of educated, global society that we can be proud of.'

Lord Puttnam

Welcome back to the new year and the spring term, writes Caroline Evans, chief executive of the Teaching Awards. It's ten years since the Teaching Awards were founded by Lord Puttnam so 2008 will be very special for us.

As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, I am delighted to announce the first Teaching Awards Summit which will be held in April 2008. It is supported by the General Teaching Council (GTC) and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), and will be hosted by Lord Puttnam and Baroness (Shirley) Williams, chair of our national judges.

The summit is titled '1998 – 2008 – 2018: Change and Challenges in Education'. An invited audience of national Teaching Award winners will be asked to debate selected issues in education and to anticipate developments for the next decade.

Teaching Award winners are an exceptional group of individuals – leading thinkers and people of influence in education. Our 10th anniversary summit is an opportunity to exchange ideas and to identify their vision for the future of our schools.

Sharing expertise and innovation, stimulating informed debate about education and putting a spotlight on the work of the profession: these activities are at the heart of the Teaching Awards. I look forward to welcoming all our guests and participants in April.

'Teachers do so many fantastic things for our kids but they rarely receive the praise they deserve,’ says Kate. ‘While a thank-you card and a mug at the end of term is all well and good, if you really want to thank your child’s favourite teacher, put them forward for a Teaching Award'.

We know Kate’s message is heartfelt since her English and drama teacher, Mr Pugh, was 'truly inspiring'. 'He recognised my love of the written word, encouraged me to develop my writing skills and told me I could be anything I wanted as long as I was prepared to work hard.

'He gave me the confidence to follow a career path that must have seemed very fancy at the time in a small-town school. Without his encouragement I would never have had the guts to chase a career in journalism and television'.

In this tenth anniversary year a host of other famous names are lending support to the Teaching Awards including comedian and award-winning actor Rob Brydon, who says his drama teacher at Porthcawl comprehensive, Roger Burnell, had an "enormous influence".

"I wasn’t very academic but what rescued me was drama. Roger was very focussed, very professional. We have kept in touch over the years and he was at both my weddings. Teachers deserve great credit and support."

Kate Thornton lends her support

Corsham primary school

'It has been a huge challenge but the opportunies for staff, children and both communities have been tremendous,' says Fiona. In less than a year the second site has been totally refurbished and is identical to the original school, right down to the carpets and the uniform children wear.

'I'm delighted to say that the children are thriving. They have terrific teachers and all the benefits of working together as one school. The rewards for me, towards the end of my career, are also to watch new leaders emerging. They are the heads of the future.'

Many of those involved in the scheme’s first year (2006–7) saw improvements in results at both the support and client schools.

A number of Teaching Award winners are, like Fiona, taking wider responsibilities for schools. Jo Shuter, 2007 national winner of the RAF award for Secondary Headteacher of the Year is interim head of Pimlico School as well as head of Quintin Kynaston in the London borough of Westminster. Tarun Kapur, 2007 winner in the North West of the RAF award is head of Ashton on Mersey and Broadoak Schools in Trafford.

Jo Shuter and Kate Thornton

Pictured here is Tony's friend and colleague Leonard Mputhi, a sports teacher, with whom he travels to school each day. Through Leonard's wife Linda, Tony has got involved in the schools' Wellness programme, which buys schools uniforms for the poorest children and serves free nutritious lunches.

Back at KNGS, the School Parliament is raising funds for the uniforms project and has also sponsored a day trip to Durban. 'The most needy children have certainly never seen the sea,' writes Tony.

Before the year is out, he has at least two other targets: to plant and reap a crop of fresh vegetables in the school grounds and to organise an outdoor residential trip.

Leonard Mputhi with students from Harrismith Secondary School in Intabazwe township

BETT is the world's leading educational ICT event, taking place on 9–12 January 2008 at Olympia, London. Attracting over 600 educational suppliers and close to 30,000 visitors, BETT brings together the global teaching and learning community for four days of innovation and inspiration.

BETT 2008 is the place to see exciting ideas, the latest technology, practical solutions that can have an immediate impact, and new ways to put ICT at the heart of education.

Teachers interested in exploring what makes for good teacher-pupil relationships are being sought by Teachers TV for a 30-minute film on the subject.