
News & Attainments



Shortlisted for 'Teacher of the Year' Educate Awards 2025
We are absolutely delighted to see Christina McArdle shortlisted for 'Teacher of the Year' at the Educate Awards in recognition of her outstanding work. Many congratulations on this well deserved achievement. We are so proud of her and wish Christina good luck at the awards ceremony; she is a winner in our eyes!
We are thrilled to see Christina’s hard work and dedication celebrated.​
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Finalists in the Laudato Si’ School Award
We’re absolutely thrilled to share that our Year 10 Eco GIFT team has made it to the final of the Laudato Si’ School Awards!
This amazing achievement recognises their outstanding commitment to ‘stewardship’ and caring for our environment. Their passion, dedication, and hard work have truly made a difference in our school and wider community. https://www.stdamians.co.uk/stewardship
The Laudato Si' School Award, offered by the Diocese of Salford, recognises and celebrates schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to caring for the environment and promoting Pope Francis' message in Laudato Si'. The awards are an opportunity to acknowledge students and groups who have shown exceptional dedication to the Laudato Si' mission of caring for "our common home”. You can find out more details about Laudato Si' here: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/laudato-si-awards-2025/
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‘Best Places to Work’
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have made it onto this years accredited list of 187 best medium sized places to work ‘Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025’, the UK’s biggest survey of employee engagement.
We are especially proud that our unique ‘Bee Well Strategy’ was recognised as having a positive impact on our staff wellbeing.
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‘Community Partnership Award’ Finalist
We were so honoured to be finalists at the Educate Awards in the ‘Community Partnership Award’ category, Liverpool. This is for the work our school does in supporting our local community. Achieving this accolade is the recognition of the work we do in raising awareness on homelessness issues, poverty and mental health.
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WOW ‘Overall School of the Year’, and ‘Secondary School of the Year’ treble!
I am delighted to the share some tremendous news with you all. This year St Damain’s have won FIVE separate awards. This includes achieving an incredible ‘treble’ of being recognised as ‘Secondary School of the Year’ three times, at three separate awards ceremonies in one single year....​​​
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An Outstanding Partnership
We have received a plaque from the University of Manchester ‘In recognition of the Excellent quality of its commitment, involvment and expertise as an Outstanding Established Partnership School for Initial Teacher Education’. Pictured are Mr Logue, Headteacher, Mrs Sutton, Professional Mentor and four members of staff who have been trainees at St Damian’s.​​​
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Excellence in Pupil Development
We are proud to announce, that in July 2022, we achieved the ‘Excellence in Pupil Development’ award. This award recognises that our pupils personal development is at the heart of everything we do and under pins our pupils academic success.​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Step into Teaching ‘Special Recognition of Excellence’ Award
St Damian’s has been honoured with the Step into Teaching ‘Special Recognition of Excellence’ Award; a very proud moment for our entire school community!
This award was accepted on behalf of our school by Sarah Sutton, our dedicated Professional Mentor for Initial Teacher Training, along with our 3 amazing Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and 4 PGCE students, currently completing their placements with us from the University of Manchester (an Ofsted Outstanding rated provider of initial teacher training.)
We are absolutely delighted to be recognised for the role we play in developing and supporting aspiring and new to role teachers. It is a testament to the nurturing, collaborative environment at St Damian’s, where professional growth and excellence in education are at the heart of everything we do.
A huge thank you to everyone involved; this award belongs to us all.

‘The Award for SEND and Inclusive Practice’’
Our THRIVE team have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in ‘The Award for SEND and Inclusive Practice’ category for the outstanding work they do supporting our children with additional, and often complex needs, meaning that they fulfil their potential are well prepared for their future.​​​​​​​​​​

‘British Training Awards’
We are delighted to announce that our Headteacher, Sheldon Logue has been named a Finalist in the ‘Leader of the Year’ people awards category at the British Training Awards 2025.
With a range of categories the British Training Awards sets out to discover and celebrate the teams and individuals who are truly passionate about Learning and Development’s role in building a thriving workforce.
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Shortlisted for Tes School Awards 2024
We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in the category of ‘Staff Wellbeing School of the Year’ at this years’ Tes School Awards.
The Tes Schools Awards recognises the very best teachers and schools from UK state and independent schools, across early years settings, primary and secondary.
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Award Winning Secondary School
We are absolutely delighted and honoured to announce that St Damian’s are winners of the Outstanding Progress in a Secondary School Award at the Education Business Awards 2023.
This is such a splendid achievement as we celebrated our 60th Anniversary.
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PEARSON SILVER AWARD ‘Making a Difference’
Secondary School of the Year
We are extremely proud and incredibly honoured that our whole school team have been named as SILVER winners in this year’s Pearson National Teaching Awards. As a community, we are blessed to work with such a talented group of people, and we genuinely appreciate everything they do for the children at St Damian's. They truly do ‘make a difference.’ To be given this opportunity to say a huge 'thank you' to them for their hard work and dedication is fantastic. St Damian’s continues to inspire and make a difference every day.”

‘Community Champions’
Winning this award is recognition of our great community spirit and the support we give to those who most need it. Through our fundraising activities and community events, including MacMillan Coffee Mornings, Share Day, Santa Dash and Christmas Markets; our commitment to interfaith dialogue and cooperation on St Damian’s Day.​
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Goldsmiths’ Award for Community Engagement – FINALISTS
We are delighted to announce that St Damian’s have reached the national finals of the ‘Goldsmiths’ Awards for Community Engagement’.
The Goldsmiths' Company Community Engagement Awards ‘celebrate the outstanding contributions schools make to their local community’.​​
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Literacy Hub Commended
The Elizabeth Jones MBE, Literacy Hub was COMMENDED in the ‘School Building Award’ category at the Education Business Awards, 2023. This category judges the most technically advanced building constructed for the purpose of teaching present and future pupils.​​
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Science Technician of the Year 2023
We are so proud to announce that Natalie Hartshorne, our Senior Science Laboratory Manager, has won the prestigious ‘Philip Harris Science Technician of the Year 2023 Award’. [supported by ASE, Association for Science Education]
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