Allen Tsui, a computing teacher at Leyton’s Willow Brook Primary School Academy, is up for the Primary Curriculum Leader of the Year award
A computing teacher at a Leyton primary school known affectionately as ‘Mr Robot’ by his students has been nominated for a prestigious education award.
Allen Tsui, the curriculum lead for computing at Leyton’s Willow Brook Primary School Academy, is up against seven other teachers for the Primary Curriculum Leader of the Year award.
Allen is the only nominated teacher from a London school in his category, while Willow Brook is the only school in Waltham Forest that has been shortlisted for the awards.
The Tes Schools Awards, which have been dubbed the ‘Oscars of education’, is a prestigious awards programme which celebrates the best of education across the UK.
The awards recognise the very best teachers and schools from UK state and independent schools, across early years settings, primary and secondary.
The shortlist was compiled by a panel of expert judges, including school leaders and experts. The schools and teachers they chose showcase the best of education across the sector within 21 award categories, covering all areas of school education.
Allen joined Willow Brook Primary Academy in 2015 and became curriculum lead for computing in September 2020. In the last twelve months, Allen’s style of using a play based approach for teaching Computing at Willow Brook has attracted international delegations from South Denmark, Colombia and Brazil.
Speaking to the Echo, he said: “Computing at Willow Brook follows an ambitious and highly structured sequence of learning which enables children to consistently achieve exceptional and extraordinary standards.”
The high standards mean that children leave Willow Brook to join Secondary schools having experienced building and remote controlling robots made from root vegetables when they were aged five.
Although Allen specialises in teaching Primary Computing, Allen has been supporting the GCSE students at Lammas Secondary prepare for their Computer Science GCSE and A-Level Examinations. Some of Allen’s previous students have gone on to study Computer Science at University including Queen Mary in Mile End.
Willow Brook Primary Academy has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted at every inspection since 2017.
Jon Severs, Editor of Tes Magazine said, “Congratulations to all the shortlisted entries – the standard was so high this year despite the challenges schools face. It is critical we celebrate excellence and share it widely so we can ensure that the fantastic work happening in education is properly recognised.”
Winners will be announced on 21st June at a glittering gala awards night at the Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, in London.
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