Celebrating Excellence in Education

At Cumbria Education Trust (CET), we continuously strive for educational excellence, and we could not be prouder to see our staff’s hard work and dedication recognised at the latest Golden Apple Awards. This annual award ceremony, in which CET is a proud sponsor, is to celebrate outstanding educators and staff who have gone above and beyond in their roles, significantly impacting students and colleagues alike. We are thrilled to announce that three exceptional members of our community have been honoured with this year’s Golden Apple Awards.

1. Nigel Youngman – Best Education and Learning Leader

Nigel Youngman is the Headteacher at The Whitehaven Academy (TWA) and has been instrumental in the significant school improvement journey that the school has been on. As a leader, Nigel is compassionate, humble, and dedicated to his community. He is also a pivotal member of the senior leadership team at CET.

His invaluable expertise, and brilliant sense of humour, mean that staff and students alike thrive in his company and he provides excellent leadership and support to all who encounter him.

Nigel commented, “Working with the incredible staff at our school is a true privilege. So to then have a nomination from them made me feel incredibly lucky. CET trust their leaders and I am surrounded by amazing colleagues.  Combine that with a supportive community, wonderful parents and brilliant students: it’s an amazing job to have.

Strong school leadership for me is about being kind. It’s a simple idea. If we are kind, we feel safe. If we feel safe we are more comfortable when taking risks. If we take risks we can challenge ourselves. When we challenge ourselves we can thrive and succeed. At TWA, we are seeing this work and it’s fantastic to witness.”

2. Layney – Best Student

Layney, a student at Workington Academy, scooped the Best Student award last night.

Alison Williamson, Teacher of English at Workington Academy, nominated Layney and said, “I nominated Layney because  I truly believe that she embodies the qualities of an outstanding student. Her passion for learning, leadership skills, and ability to inspire others makes her a worthy Golden Apple award recipient. She is a resilient, strong and remarkable young lady.

“Seeing Layney win the Best Student award was an incredible moment of pride and joy. Her hard work and dedication truly paid off. Staff at Workington Academy have always recognised Layney as an outstanding student; it was heartwarming for others to see this in her too.”

Layney added, “Receiving a nomination for the Golden Apple Award was an amazing achievement. It is down to the support I have received from my family, friends and teachers.

The shock of winning the Golden Apple Award was indescribable. It was a powerful reminder that dreams can become reality if you believe in yourself and put in the effort. I was gobsmacked!”

3. Oksana Pereyma – Best Apprentice

Oksana Pereyma, an Apprentice Teaching Assistant at William Howard School, took home the Best Apprentice award, to the delight of all staff across the Trust. Oksana and her three children moved to the UK from Ukraine, with the help of her host family Dr Storr (Chair of WHS LAB) and his wife Dr Royal. Upon her arrival, Oksana enrolled in various courses at her local library and embarked on an apprenticeship with System People Apprenticeships, under the guidance of Natalie Sisson.

Reflecting on winning her award, Oksana said, “It was an amazing evening that I will remember for the rest of my life. Natalie said some very nice words, and I am very grateful to her. She is a highly professional, kind, and caring individual, making it a pleasure to work alongside her.

”When I began working at William Howard School, Nicola Grogan became my mentor. She is an exceptional person, and it has been an absolute honour to work with her. The entire staff has always been friendly and supportive, significantly contributing to my work experience. Working in the learning provision department has been a fulfilling experience, as we collectively strive to create an environment that enables our students to achieve their best results while being happy. My life has changed remarkably since starting work at the school. Our incredible students inspire me every day to be a better person.”

The Golden Apple Awards serve as a reminder of the exceptional work being done by educators and staff at Cumbria Education Trust every day. We had a total of seven finalists, showcasing the high standards and excellent qualities of leadership, dedication, and passion that make our schools a place where students can truly excel.

Des Bird, Director of Secondary Improvement at CET, remarked, “I was proud to represent Cumbria Education Trust at the Golden Apple Awards.  It was fantastic to see staff and students from each of our three secondary schools picking up prestigious prizes.  A fantastic night was had by all.”

As we celebrate their achievements, we also recognise the broader school community that supports and uplifts each other in the shared mission of providing the best possible education for our students.

Congratulations once again to Nigel, Layney and Oksana on this well-deserved achievement!