Let Teachers SHINE
At SHINE, we've always supported innovative teaching that makes a huge impact and gets great results. We're constantly on the hunt for new ideas and fresh approaches. Let Teachers SHINE combines these two priorities into a competition for great teachers around the country.
The closing date for Let Teachers SHINE was Sunday 19th May. We're delighted to have received a record 130 entries - thank you to everybody who sent one in and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
Following the success of the inaugural competition last year, Let Teachers SHINE returned in 2013. Once again we worked with the Times Educational Supplement to find the country's best teachers and some fresh, imaginative and practical ways to raise attainment among disadvantaged students.
What's more, this year we expanded the scope of Let Teachers SHINE to include not just literacy and numeracy, but science as well. And we have also teamed up with Bloomberg, which has made a generous grant to fund winners that use technology in an exciting way.
How does it work?
It's simple, really. The competition is free to enter and open to any qualified teacher working in England with students aged up to 18.
The closing date for applications was Sunday 19th May, with a record 130 entries. A panel of judges from SHINE, the TES and Bloomberg will now choose up to 10 winning projects. Each one will receive up to £15,000 from SHINE – making a total potential prize pot of £150,000.
This money will fund a year-long pilot programme to demonstrate that the initiative can achieve measurable improvements among disadvantaged students in English, maths and/or science (combined or separate). We will review progress next summer and, along with the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, will provide continued funding to the most successful initiatives to enable them to expand and develop further.
If you're still not sure how it works, click here for answers to some frequently asked questions. Download Now
What are we looking for?
We don't want to close down any possible avenues. Successful ideas might involve the innovative use of technology or superb after-school programmes. They could include unique teaching activities for groups or for individual students. Or none of the above.
However, our winners will have some common characteristics:
- Clearly defined objectives – what exactly is your idea, what do you hope to achieve, who are you targeting, and how will you show us that it works? We were looking for measurable, meaningful impact.
- A sensible, transparent budget – why do you need the money? For example, do you need to pay teachers, rent facilities and / or produce resources? We want to know.
- The potential for development and expansion. We're looking for projects that we can scale up. If you're a winner and your pilot year is a great success, we'll be very interested in continuing our support so that you can help even more children.
- Innovation. We are only interested in genuinely new ideas and fresh approaches. Surprise us.
To read brief descriptions of last year's 10 winning projects, click here.
What happens next?
The competition is now closed to new entries and we are sifting through a mountain of applications.
Shortlisted teachers will be invited to come to London to discuss their proposal in more detail with our judges. These will include representatives of SHINE, the TES and Bloomberg. Then we'll choose our winners – up to 10 in total. Each one will receive up to £15,000 to fund a year’s pilot project, starting in September 2013.
The pilot projects
We're looking for great ideas that actually work in practice. The pilot will enable you to show us that your proposal can successfully deliver measurable and meaningful improvements in attainment.
The pilot must benefit disadvantaged students. These can either be pupils at your school or others living nearby and should have one or more indicators of disadvantage (for example, receiving free school meals, having special educational needs and/or English as an additional language). The pilots must focus on English/literacy, maths/numeracy and/or science – either combined science or one or more separate science subjects.
At the end of the school year (summer 2014) SHINE and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will review all the winning initiatives. The most successful will be considered for continued funding to allow them to expand and develop further.
And finally...
If you are (or know) a great teacher with a unique way of delivering superb results, we really do want to hear from you, so please watch out for Let Teachers SHINE 2014.
Thank you for your interest in Let Teachers SHINE – and if you put in an application, good luck!
"Last year we were all pleasantly surprised by how many schools took part. We are very keen to see what ideas come through this year and I'm very optimistic."
Michael Shaw, TES Deputy Editor
"We are delighted to be part of the exciting Let Teachers SHINE programme and to help support some of the country's most dynamic English, maths and science teachers as they develop effective new digital solutions to key challenges in the classroom."
Jemma Read, Head of Philanthropy EMEA, Bloomberg
"We know how important teachers are to academic success, and have often witnessed how fresh ideas in the classroom can produce impressive results. We were delighted by the response to the first competition last year and so are very pleased to be expanding it to cover the sciences, as well as maths and English."
Paul Carbury, SHINE Chief Executive
Quotes
"Last year we were all pleasantly surprised by how many schools took part. We are very keen to see what ideas come through this year and I'm very optimistic."
Michael Shaw, TES Deputy Editor
"We are delighted to be part of the exciting Let Teachers SHINE programme and to help support some of the country's most dynamic English, maths and science teachers as they develop effective new digital solutions to key challenges in the classroom."
Jemma Read, Head of Philanthropy EMEA, Bloomberg
"We know how important teachers are to academic success, and have often witnessed how fresh ideas in the classroom can produce impressive results. We were delighted by the response to the first competition last year and so are very pleased to be expanding it to cover the sciences, as well as maths and English."
Paul Carbury, SHINE Chief Executive