A FORMER Merrill Academy pupil who was once the youngest head teacher in the UK has been presented with a national award – a special purple plaque to mark the 2021 National Census – for ‘dedication and services to the community of Derby’.
Clive Lawrence, executive head teacher of St Giles School; part of the Spencer Academies Trust of schools, is one of only 22 people across England and Wales who have received a unique purple plaque honouring them for work in their community.
The iconic purple plaques feature the name of each community hero and are in the brand colour of Census 2021; a census is a count of all people and households which is conducted by the Office for National Statistics. It is done every 10 years, with the first-ever census taking place in 1801.
Clive received this award for dedicating almost two decades of his life supporting vulnerable children and their families in the community of Derby, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He asked for the commemorative plaque to be placed in the reception area of Merrill Academy to ‘inspire other young people to do their very best’.
St Giles School executive head teacher Clive Lawrence is one of 22 people in the UK who have been presented with a commemorative purple plaque to mark the 2021 Census. Photo: PA
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“Merrill is where my roots are and I’m extremely proud to say that I went to this school,” said Clive, “Merrill played a big part in my life and it helped to shape who I am today. I had some great teachers there; particularly in the PE department, who always went that ‘extra mile’ to guide and support me.
“I was heavily involved in school sports team and Merrill is a place which taught me how to be resilient, to be accepting of people from different backgrounds and cultures, and to stand up for what you truly believe in.
“I hope that both current and future students at Merrill see the purple plaque as a gentle reminder to work hard at school, to stay focussed, to not let others negatively influence you and to take full advantage of what Merrill has to offer.”
Jo Harlow, head teacher at Merrill Academy, said: “I continually tell the students here at Merrill Academy that they can go on to be whatever they way to be, if they work hard and are ambitious.
“This is a really fine example from Clive and it makes me so proud to be Merrill Academy’s head teacher. To be able to produce future head leaders is a testament to the power of education and to the fine teachers here at Merrill.
“That he has a desire to recognise Merrill Academy by placing the plaque here in our reception reveals an authentic fondness for his time spent learning here and I am honoured.”
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Born and bred in Allenton, one of Derby’s most socially deprived areas, Clive has made a substantial contribution over the years to the voluntary sector; through the children’s charity Derby Kids Camp, which provide well deserved children with free holidays during the summer holidays.
In addition, he has worked with Umbrella; a registered charity in Derby, which provides respite care and holiday clubs to young people with disabilities.
Clive has also volunteered with a local charity, St Bartholomew community initiative in Osmaston and Allenton; whose aim was to get vulnerable children off the streets and engaged with positive activities, instead of them getting involved in anti-social behaviour and gang crime on the estate.
And, as a teenager, Clive jointly led a successful youth football team; formerly Caveliers FC, on a voluntary basis with footballing friend Macca Collins.
After leaving Merrill Academy in 2002, Clive went on to Sixth Form at Landau Forte College, Derby and then to the university of Northampton, where he trained to become a primary school teacher. He completed a masters degree in Education at the University of Derby and then, in 2014 – at the age of just 28 – he became the UK’s youngest head teacher.
Much of Clive’s motivation and drive stems from seeing his younger brother get in with the wrong crowd on the estate and sadly his brother was permanently excluded from secondary school. Clive was granted special guardianship by the courts of his brother’s three-year-old daughter, with Clive holding legal parental responsibility since birth – a decision taken to help his brother out, who was experiencing difficulties in life at the time. Clive also wanted to ensure that his little niece remained within the family.
Clive was brought up by his loving mum, Angela, who gave birth to him when she was only a teenager herself. Alongside his supportive step-dad Mick, two younger brothers and a sister, they lived as a happy family in a three-bed council house on the Allenton estate.
In 2019; at the age of just 51, Clive tragically lost his mum after a long batter with breast cancer. In memory of her life; and as a thank you for their care and support she received during her final few months, Clive went on to raise several thousands of pounds for Treetops Hospice Care.
He paid tribute to his mum by saying: “Mum taught me to never forget my roots and to be proud of where I’ve come from.
“She taught me to be appreciative of what I have in life and to be loyal to those family and friends who are important to me. All that I am today, I owe it all to my mum”.
Clive also pays tribute to his amazing pupils and inspirational staff at St Giles School; where he’s been Executive Headteacher since 2015.
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Clive says that it is important to have a solid team behind you and thanked the staff for their continued hard work, support and commitment, during what has been ‘the most challenging year’ of his career.
He remains proud of all of the pupils at St Giles who have coped really well with so much change and have gone on to achieve some amazing things. “We are coming up to a year now since schools in the UK were forced to shut due to the Coronavirus pandemic and; hand on heart, it has been the most challenging 12 months I have ever experienced as a school leader,” he said “but I’m so proud of the way in which everyone involved with St Giles School – the academy trust, Derby City local authority, governors, staff, parents and carers and the children – have pulled together to really help and support each other during uncertain times.
“We have had to change the way we teach; staff have worked around the clock to create learning packs for those pupils who were home-learning.
“We had members of staff doing supermarket and medication runs to help children and their families as best as possible as some families struggled to fine essentials or, for other reasons, weren’t able to access a supermarket.”
Those specially-adapted homelearning needs, each one tailored to the child, were well received by parents and carers.
One pupil, six-year-old Harry, who is non-verbal, said his first-ever word during sensory water play at home with mum, Louise. Noah, also six, wrote his name for the very first time; a celebrated milestone for dad, Jim.
The school have tried to keep everything as structured as possible for the children, offering an alternative provision for vulnerable children and families and celebrating occasions which they would normally, such as World Book Day, Diwali and Christmas.
At Christmas, as Covid restrictions meant that they couldn’t take children to visit elderly residents at nearby Douglas Court care home for their annual sing-along, pupils created pictures and cards which were delivered safely.
“Whatever the occasion – be it Diwali, Eid or Christmas – we have continued to mark the event in a way in which pupils can enjoy their learning and thrive; we offer a broad and balanced curriculum which reflects our diverse school community,” added Clive.
“And as schools across England begin to fully reopen following the latest lockdown, we are excited to welcome back those pupils who sadly haven’t been in school for some time. We’ve missed them all very much.”
ENDS
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