London Schools and the Black Child Awards 2006

13 Sep 2006

On Friday Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and founder of the London  Schools and the Black Child project, hosted a special education awards ceremony at the House of Commons.

There were awards for: top black academic achievers at GCSE and A level; high achieving black university students and black educationalists. There was also an award for London's top black teacher.

Speakers included the Education Minister Lord Adonis, Diane Abbott MP, Baroness Amos . Guest award presenters included: Meg Hillier MP, Dawn Butler MP, Lord Herman Ousley, Baroness Ros Howells, BBC presenter Garth Crooks and other celebrities.

Diane Abbott said today: "These awards are about celebrating success and honouring all those teachers who work so hard to ensure that all London's school children achieve everything they are a capable of. We have had some amazing children nominated. It proves that despite the challenges many of our black children are achieving."

Diane added: "I believe that acknowledging their success and celebrating excellence is an important way of encouraging and inspiring all of our children to do their very best at school. This evening celebrated some of our brightest young Londoners. There can be no doubt about the outstanding performance of tonight's nominees. I received hundreds of high quality nominations for these awards and shortlisting was very difficult indeed.

Diane added: "All of the children present on the night have proved that they are very special indeed and that failure is not an option for them. Some of them have achieved remarkable things under the most difficult of personal circumstances."

Diane added: "I was particularly pleased to see that there were so many Hackney children among the nominees."

The awards show was generously sponsored by UBS Investment Bank who provided lap top computers and other goodies for the winners.

Tutu Agyare, Head of European Emerging Equities, UBS Investment Bank, said: "UBS is delighted to support the London Schools and the Black Child 2006 Awards ceremony, celebrating the outstanding educational achievements of black pupils in London. UBS has a strong commitment to the local communities in London in which we operate and is committed to developing the best talent across all cultures and backgrounds."

 



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