Awards

National Teaching Awards

Inspirational teachers win awards

Our headteacher Amy Anderson was also highly commended in the National Headteacher of the Year in the Pearson National Teaching Awards for two years in a row!

Amy said: "I feel so proud to have received Highly Commended in the Headteacher of the year category which is reflective of the whole team and the journey we have been on together. It is lovely to have been nominated and be recognised for the work that we have done."

Laura Cripps, GLF's Pedagogy & Practice Trust Lead, added: "The school deserves this recognition for the exceptional inclusive environment it provides where children are at the heart of everything they do."

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity, 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.

Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, says: “I am inspired by the devotion of teachers and the huge impact they have on the lives of the young people they tutor, support, encourage and motivate day in and day out. 

"The valuable role they play both inside and outside the classroom has inspired generations of young people across the country to achieve their potential. I am delighted to congratulate the winners of the 2023 Awards and thank them all for the amazing contributions they have made to our communities.”

Silver award winners!

Meridian High School is proud to have received national recognition through the Pearson National Teaching Awards. From thousands of nominations, the school’s work in SEND and inclusive education was recognised with a Silver Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education.

The award was presented and celebrated for the collective work of Meridian’s staff, leaders and wider inclusion team. It recognised the school’s commitment to improving the lives of pupils with SEND and working closely with their families and the local community.

Reacting to the award, Amy says: "We as a team feel overwhelmed and exhilarated to have won the silver award. Everything we do is for the students. This award would not have been achieved without the vision and strategy of the Headteacher Mrs Anderson, and the implementation in every facet of the school" . 

The award particularly recognised the development of Meridian’s SEND provision, including the continued success of Pinnacle and the school’s whole-school approach to adaptive and inclusive teaching. This work has helped to ensure that pupils with additional needs receive the right academic, emotional and pastoral support and are able to participate fully in school life.

The recognition reflects a long-term commitment to inclusion at Meridian. Staff across the school have worked together to develop language and literacy support, strengthen adaptive classroom practice and create specialist provision that responds to pupils’ individual needs. The impact of this work can be seen not only in the provision available, but also in the inclusive culture that has developed throughout the school.

Gemma Singleton, Deputy Headteacher, said: "It was easy to nominate the teamdue to the impact they have had and the continued success of Pinnacle and adaptive teaching practice for SEND and supporting our SEND students."

The honours have been announced on National Thank a Teacher Day, an annual event celebrating the role of educators across the UK for the valued role they play in communities and shaping young people.

Dr Christina Stead, Chair of SSB, added: "I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the innovative work at Meridian High School and also that it has been recognised at a National level."

Sharon Hague, Senior Vice President of Schools at Pearson UK, adds: “We would like to congratulate today’s Silver winners on their incredible achievements. We can’t underestimate the huge contribution schools make to our young people’s lives and Amy Stimpson is an inspiring example of the positive impact an individual can have on pupils and communities.” 

Matt Waring, Education and B2B Channel Manager at Logitech, sponsor of The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education, concluded: “On a daily basis, outstanding educators play a critical role in fostering the potential of students across the UK and nowhere is this more important than in special needs education.  We take great pleasure in recognising this contribution through our association with the Pearson National Teaching Awards. Congratulations to Amy Anderson and  Amy Stimpson on this outstanding recognition.”

 

Meridian High School Wins Bronze National Teaching Award

Meridian High School is incredibly proud to have received a Bronze National Teaching Award for Making a Difference-Secondary School of the Year.

Selected from schools across the country, this national recognition celebrates the difference Meridian makes to the lives of its pupils, families and the wider New Addington community. It recognises the commitment of the whole school team and our shared determination to ensure every pupil feels known, supported and able to succeed.

The award celebrates the collective work of our pupils, staff, governors, families and community partners. It reflects the care shown every day, the strength of relationships across the school and the determination of staff to remove barriers for young people.

Meridian’s approach is built around high expectations alongside strong academic, pastoral and emotional support. Through inclusive classroom practice, specialist SEND provision, Thrive, oracy, literacy and reading support, mentoring and our alternative education programmes, we work hard to respond to the individual needs of our pupils.

The award also recognises the significant journey the school has been on. Staff have worked together to strengthen teaching and learning, develop the curriculum and create a calm, inclusive environment where pupils are encouraged to challenge themselves, learn with confidence and achieve their potential.

 

Amy Anderson, Headteacher, Meridian High School, said: “All of us are so proud to see the ambition and aspiration of all our staff and students being recognised on so many levels by winning these awards. We have achieved so much thanks to relentless belief and uncompromising expectations. While our students do not lack potential, they are often not given opportunities once they leave school, but at Meridian, we ensure they receive both.”

Warwick Sharp, CEO, GLF Schools, said: “Congratulations to students, staff and families at Meridian High School who all thoroughly deserve these awards. They reflect what so many of our schools provide for all our students: a balanced mix of academic aspiration, cultural experiences and an emphasis on student wellbeing. All those factors come together to allow young people to thrive and to go on to have successful lives and careers. We are very proud of the role Meridian High School plays in the community, along with the innovation our dedicated staff bring to teaching, abd rgese awards absolutely recognise those achievements". 

For Meridian, this award is not simply about one project or one area of the school. It reflects the combined impact of high-quality teaching, inclusive practice, strong pastoral care and positive relationships with families. Most importantly, it recognises a community that believes deeply in its young people.

We are extremely proud to be recognised as a Bronze Award winner for Making a Difference:Secondary School of the Year. This achievement belongs to everyone who is part of Meridian High School and reflects our shared commitment to helping every pupil Challenge, Learn and Achieve.

 

Excellence in Pupil Development Award

'Developing confident, resilient and responsible young people who are prepared for life beyond school'

Meridian High School is delighted to have achieved the Excellence in Pupil Development Award (EPDA) in May 2026. This national award recognises our commitment to placing pupils’ personal development at the heart of school life.

The EPDA provides schools with a structured framework for evaluating and strengthening their personal development and pastoral provision. It recognises the work schools do to develop pupils’ confidence, resilience, self-discipline, leadership and sense of responsibility, while preparing them for life in modern Britain. 

Achieving the award reflects the collective work of our pupils, staff, families and community partners. At Meridian, personal development is supported through our PSHE curriculum, careers education, enrichment opportunities, pupil leadership, oracy, Thrive, mentoring and wider pastoral provision.

The long-term benefits of this work include:

• Increased confidence, resilience and independence
• Stronger leadership and communication skills
• Improved understanding of wellbeing and positive relationships
• Greater awareness of responsibility, financial education and life beyond school
• Increased participation in enrichment and community opportunities
• Better preparation for further education, training and employment

We are extremely proud to have achieved the Excellence in Pupil Development Award. It recognises our commitment to developing the whole child and ensuring that pupils leave Meridian with the knowledge, character and personal skills they need to Challenge, Learn and Achieve.

Leading Parent Partnership Award 

Raising achievement by involving parents and carers in the work of our school

In January 2024 Meridian High School was awarded the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) in recognition of the work done to support parents and carers in engaging with the school and their child’s learning.

LPPA is a national award that provides us with a valuable framework for continuing school improvement and also gives us recognition for our commitment to working with parents and carers.

The long-term benefits of the LPPA will include (but are not limited to):

• Increased parent participation and involvement
• Enhanced parents’ support in children’s learning
• Improved communication between home and school

We were assessed in January 2024 and are delighted to have achieved the Award.

SEND Inclusion Award

What is SENDIA?

SENDIA provides a framework for us to deliver effective SEND and inclusive practices within the school; which will in turn generate high outcomes for students with SEND, in line with the SEND Code of Practice and the Education Inspection Framework.
 

What will it include?

• Create a working group that will be made up of representatives from all groups with an interest in SEND education. (Staff, students, governors and parents). Regular updates regarding progress.
• Self-Evaluation of the school centred on characteristics of the school, Ofsted rating and Pupil/Parent/Staff Voice.
• Creating an Action Plan with a comprehensive evidence portfolio to demonstrate our compliance with the Key Performance Indicators and Objectives.
• Visit from an assessor to verify that the objectives have successfully been met.

How will it help?

The award will help us to develop high quality SEND provision throughout the school by:

• Promoting awareness of SEND issues and inclusion for all stakeholders of Meridian High School
• Promoting awareness to all students, including those not on the SEND register.
• Evaluating and improving classroom practices and interventions
• Developing a clear and inclusive support system focusing on improving student outcomes.

Successful completion of the award will enable schools to:

• Gain recognition for high-quality education and care for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
• Demonstrate to all stakeholders that the school provision complies with current legislation and the SEND Code of Practice, and is effective in achieving good outcomes for all pupils.

We are pleased to announce that we achieved the SENDIA award in July 2024.

Thrive School Of Excellence

In 2023 Meridian High School proudly achieved the Thrive School of Excellence Award. We are delighted to have been reaccredited as a Thrive School of Excellence in 2026. Retaining this award recognises that we continue to maintain the highest standards in supporting pupils’ mental health, emotional wellbeing and social development.

We are incredibly proud of our dedicated staff and the difference they make to the lives of our young people every day. This reaccreditation reflects our sustained commitment to Thrive and recognises that it is fully embedded within our culture, relationships and wider school provision.

Thrive promotes positive mental health by helping adults understand what pupils may be communicating through their behaviour. It gives staff the knowledge and practical strategies they need to respond consistently and compassionately, particularly when a young person is struggling or distressed.

Our approach is informed by established research in neuroscience, attachment theory and child development. Staff use this understanding to build trusted relationships, respond to pupils’ individual needs and help them feel safe, valued and ready to learn. Over time, this supports pupils to become more emotionally resilient and better equipped to manage life’s challenges.

Positive relationships are at the heart of Thrive. Through trusted adults, carefully planned interventions, play, creative activities and opportunities to talk, pupils receive experiences matched to their stage of emotional and social development. Repetition and consistency help pupils to:

• Feel valued and understand that they matter
• Develop a greater sense of safety, security and trust
• Improve their emotional and social wellbeing
• Become more creative, curious and willing to participate
• Build their self-esteem and confidence as learners
• Recognise, understand and regulate their emotions
• Develop strategies for managing difficult situations
• Think more carefully before responding or behaving in a particular way
• Build positive and healthy relationships with others

Supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing is a shared responsibility across Meridian. Thrive is not limited to individual interventions or one area of the school; its principles shape our classrooms, pastoral support, specialist provision and daily interactions with pupils.

We are extremely proud to have retained our Thrive School of Excellence status in 2026. We will continue to build on this work, ensuring that every pupil feels safe, understood and supported so that they can flourish, learn and achieve.

 

Voice 21- Oracy Centre of Excellence 

Meridian High School accredited as Oracy Centre of Excellence after competitive awarding process.

Meridian High School is accredited as an Oracy Centre of Excellence by national oracy charity, Voice 21, for its work developing students’ speaking and listening skills.

Voice 21 work with around 1000 schools, and Meridian High School was one of only twenty four chosen to have their oracy achievements recognised today with this “gold standard” accreditation.

As a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence, Meridian High School will support other schools in the community and across the country, showcasing how oracy teaching can impact their students’ future education and employment opportunities.

Oracy has been shown to be as important as reading and numeracy in improving life outcomes for children. That’s why it’s been recognised in the Labour Party and Liberal Democrat manifestos as being at the heart of the education policy. Meridian High School chose to prioritise oracy for their students because:

Amy Anderson, Headteacher says “The ability to express oneself clearly and effectively through speech, is a vital skill for students' personal and academic growth. In school, oracy helps students develop essential communication skills like active listening, persuasive speaking, and clear articulation. For disadvantaged students, it can be a powerful tool to build confidence, enabling them to participate fully in classroom discussions and express their ideas. Mastering oracy not only enhances academic performance but also equips students with the verbal skills needed for success in future careers and life, fostering self-assurance and opening doors to new opportunities.”

Gemma Papworth our whole school Oracy Lead says: ‘"Oracy is so important for our young people as the power it has to elevate their success both in school and within their futures will enable them to have the best life chances which they deserve. If they can articulate their ideas and show how valuable their voices are, they will find doors opening for them that they never believed could have existed. Oracy is an incredibly powerful tool in making our students heard."

Evan our Head Boy and Oracy Champion said “Working on specific oracy skills has made me more confident in every day speaking, public speaking and when presenting to different audiences such as visitors. I think communication skills are vital for my future and will support me in becoming successful.”

Dr Kate Paradine, CEO at Voice 21, says: “The Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence award certifies and celebrates schools who are changing the way they educate. Meridian High School has demonstrated the quality of oracy education being provided across five areas of school life; their school’s vision, culture, curriculum, learning and impact on students. This “whole school” approach is at the heart of what it means to offer a high-quality oracy education”

Literacy Gold Award 

Meridian High School has been honoured with the prestigious Literacy Gold Accelerated Progress Award in recognition of its exceptional achievements in rapidly boosting students’ reading and literacy skills. Literacy Gold is an evidence-based intervention, proven to improve reading fluency, comprehension, and speed in secondary pupils, often producing average reading age gains of 12 month within a single term.

Over the past academic year, Meridian High implemented Literacy Gold across targeted groups of students identified through baseline assessments such as NGRT. Students engaged with the programme, both during school and at home for a minimum daily duration. 

“This award celebrates our focused and structured approach to literacy support. It’s a testament to the dedication of staff and the resilience of our students,” said Headteacher, Amy Anderson.