AN ALVA teacher has scooped a prestigious national award last week but insists the accolade is for the "whole community"

David Clifford, of Alva Academy, was named Teacher of the Year at the Scottish Education Awards 2022, while the school was also recognised for its efforts in reconnecting young people after lockdown.

The academy won the Making a Difference (Secondary) Award at the same ceremony for its working in transforming the life chances of young people, having put in place a programme post-lockdown.

The accolades were handed out at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow last Wednesday, June 8, and the school returned to the same venue the next day for yet another ceremony.

This time educators and pupils arrived for an event hosted by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Scotland and Alva Academy scooped Voluntary Fundraising Group of the Year 2022 for its well-known efforts for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Speaking about last Wednesday's ceremony, teacher David Clifford told the Advertiser: "It was wonderful day; it was so nice to spend time with truly inspiration people from loads of different schools, primary and secondary.

“It was special and it was a fantastic day for Alva Academy in general.

“And it was lovely to be able to share it with a lot of our pupils and staff as well – and even my mum and dad.”

David, a music teacher, has been involved in a wide variety of initiatives and also had a hand in the activities that secured the Making a Difference trophy.

Also at the education awards, the school's Shiona Finn, who has been serving the academy for 31 years, narrowly lost out on the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alva was in the finals, too, for the Curriculum Innovation Award for its approaches to Remembrance and The Holocaust.

Cllr Graham Lindsay, spokesperson for education, said: “Being shortlisted and winning in the Scottish Education Awards is a sign of the very high ambitions we have for the educational opportunities offered to our young people in Clackmannanshire, and of the hard work and dedication of their teachers and school staff.

“The council is determined that all pupils are supported to achieve the very best they can, and to be prepared to take every opportunity to thrive in their lives.”

It is understood David has now been shortlisted in the final eight of a UK-wide teacher of the year awards as well.

He gave a nod of thanks to everybody that contributed to nominations and supported the school at the event.

The teacher added: “But ultimately, it's a thank you to our community, without the pupils, the staff, the parents and the support we get from the wider community we couldn't do what we do.

“The awards, even though technically on paper they are either for myself or Alva Academy, they are not, they are for the whole community in the Hillfoots and we should be so proud of where we come from, especially being the smallest [mainland] council in Britain.”