Oxford Owl Lockdown Learning Hero Awards

From superstar parents, to teachers who go the extra mile, to children who have been learning legends – we launched the Oxford Owl Lockdown Learning Hero Awards to celebrate the inspirational individuals who have made a difference to learning during lockdown, no matter how big or small.

Lots of you took the time to nominate your heroes and Claire from PlayHOORAY! and her judging panel have the tough job of choosing just three winners from all of your awe-inspiring entries.

A huge well done to everyone who was nominated – we think you’re all heroes! – but there can only be one winner in each category, who will win £100 of Oxford University Press books for their chosen school, and a Samsung Tablet (or a Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet for our children’s winner).

The Lockdown Learning Hero Award winners will be announced at 10am on Friday 19th March in a special video awards ceremony, hosted on the Oxford Owl Facebook page.

Here are the finalists, who will all receive £50 of Oxford University Press books for their schools!

Finalists: Teachers or members of staff at a primary school

Claire

A teacher who has gone above and beyond to ensure that each and every child is healthy and happy, supporting parents, making deliveries to families, and even reading them bedtime stories each night!

Dana

An assistant head teacher who has worked relentlessly to deliver donated devices, arrange internet access, and to supply everything from clothing and food parcels, to books and toys, not to mention tailored home learning, to her school’s pupils and their parents.

The staff team at Brightwell cum Sotwell CofE Primary School

A small but mighty team who have worked together with an unwavering sense of duty to serve their community, with inspirational and fun videos, doorstep visits to families, quizzes, storytime, PE challenges, a wellbeing gift for each child, and lots of care!

Mrs Smith

A teacher with a smile for everyone, Mrs Smith has juggled homeschooling her own children, taking charge of teaching key worker children at her school, stopping by to teach children from their driveways, and still found time to deliver gold stars to her class!

Finalists: Parents/carers of a primary school age child

Ray

A grandad who has tackled homeschooling with impressive patience, becoming an expert on video software to support his grandsons’ learning and helping them make rapid progress with handwriting and more.

Rob

A parent who has had a huge impact on numerous children’s learning by collecting,
refurbishing and donating hundred of laptops and raising over £10,000 to buy
new ones for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Natalie

A mum of five and scout leader who has been the driving force behind ensuring her scouts have access to a vibrant and exciting programme of online sessions and activities, including a race around the world, record-breaking camping at home and monthly challenges.

Hasan

A parent whose volunteering has provided numerous teachers and children with the internet access they need to continue teaching and learning at home. He even opened up his home to the pupils in his daughter’s class to offer them somewhere to learn – with free meals included!

James

A creative grandad who has come up with all sorts of ideas to support his five-year-old granddaughter’s home learning, from orienteering walks to home-made worksheets, as well as teddy bear classmates who even answer the morning register!

Finalists: Primary school age children

Kyle

An enthusiastic Year 1 who has made huge progress with reading, showing brilliant self-motivation with home learning while his parents work, Kyle is always ready with a smile and keen to help at home.

Carmela

A brave 6-year-old who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Carmela hasn’t been able to see her delivery driver dad throughout lockdown. But rather than letting it stop her, she’s been escaping into books, relaxing – and excelling! – with reading, not to mention doing amazing fundraising work to raise awareness of her condition.

Shreyas

Shreyas has grown from being super shy to confident enough to actively participate in live video lessons. To thank his teachers and TAs for their support, he asked his mum to help him make up a thank you hamper full of treats for the school staff to enjoy – showing just how caring and kind he is!

Lynott

Lynott is a 6-year-old ray of sunshine! She’s had to complete all of the lessons from her Special Educational Needs School remotely because of health concerns, but she’s done it like a star, making huge progress in her learning and uploading creative videos that her teachers can’t wait to see each day.

Got your own Lockdown Learning Hero?

Let them know they’re your hero and say thank you with this certificate that you can download and personalise!

Meet our head judge