On Tuesday, 25 June Ambassador Boomgaarden, German Ambassador to the Court of St James, hosted the 'Sommerfest der Deutschen Sprache and German Teacher Awards 2013'. Over 200 teachers and representatives from the education and language teaching sectors came from all over the UK to join the celebrations. At the summer party Ambassador Boomgaarden was delighted to welcome Elizabeth Truss MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, as the keynote speaker for the event.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to our very own Mr Hill. He has, believe it or not, been in role as Curriculum Leader of German at Highcliffe School since gaining his PGCE in 1974. In his time at the school he has acted as deputy head of department, school publicity officer and more recently co-director of Language College, but German has always remained his passion and focus. Over his 39 years teaching at Highcliffe School he has been responsible for dramatic and inspirational changes within the school’s languages provision, not least the introduction of A Level German to the school. He also played an inspirational and driving role in the successful designation of Highcliffe School as a Language College in 2000. He has also been MFL Lead Subject Tutor for the SCITT (teacher training programme) and has overseen the training of many new German teachers.
During his career Mr Hill has taken over 4000 students on foreign trips and exchanges, including well in excess of 1000 students to Germany. To this day he continues to run the annual German Christmas market trip and the French exchange.
He has inspired many students to take part in Goethe-Institut and UK German Connection projects. Under his guidance seven sixth form students winning trips to Germany over the last ten years. This year he has successfully encouraged a Year 13 student to be a UK German Connection Youth ambassador. He has also passionately shared German culture with students at Highcliffe School by arranging several Goethe-Institut in-school events, such as a Torwand visit, the Double Club German and several poster exhibitions, such as Musik+X. With his Year 11 German class he produced the best set of GCSE results across the entire school in 2012 and this year he has had the pleasure of seeing one of his Year 13 students accepted at Oxford University to study German.
After the award ceremony the guests had the opportunity to visit the German Fair for Teachers. Represented there were a number of stands by partner organisations, including UK-German Connection, Goethe-Institut and DAAD, as well as the German National Tourist Office and representatives from the Embassies of Austria and Switzerland.
Main Image © German Embassy London
Owned by: | Last Published: 28/06/2013 11:12:31 | Next Update: N/A
© Copyright 2024 Highcliffe School. All Rights Reserved.
Highcliffe School is part of HISP Multi Academy Trust. Registered in England & Wales Number: 07562918
