Cranleigh teacher scoops top award

Mr Rob Verdon, Head of Politics at Cranleigh School, has won a Politics Studies Association Award for Outstanding Teaching of Politics.

The well deserved prize recognised his encouragement of thinking beyond examinations, as well as numerous extra curricular initiatives.

Mr Verdon initiated activities such as the Dangerous Minds public speaking event, which gives pupils just six minutes to 'change the world' with their powerful speeches. He also organises electoral hustings for young voters and student-led podcasts.

Judges said: "This award showed evidence of dissemination and sharing of teaching practice, as well as a focus on encouraging thinking beyond exams to students. Further, we were impressed by the many extracurricular activities developed for students, from the launch of a student-run podcast and blog, to the Dangerous Minds speaking competition and organising election hustings for young and first-time voters."