The Bolton News Education Awards are back for 2023. 

Our awards celebrate the best in Bolton’s schools, from students to teachers to entire schools. 

Our winner of Headteacher of the Year, sponsored by The Bolton News, is Gary Anders of Green Fold Special School. 

Gary was nominated by his teaching team, having been at Green Fold since 2016. 

The testimony says: "He is a kind, creative and knowledgeable headteacher of our happy primary special school in Bolton, providing an outstanding holistic approach to education for 168 amazing, inspirational children with highly complex needs. 

"Gary joined the setting as Head of School in 2016, quickly progressing to Headteacher. Under Gary's leadership, the school has grown exponentially. 

"A culture of kindness and continuous self improvement is important to Gary. Additionally, Gary gives his time and expertise generously to help the wider community. 

"Over time Gary has recruited and nurtured a specialised leadership team, each striving to achieve our vision to develop a centre of excellence for SEND including autism, PMLD and communication, providing the best education and care for all of our children, all of the time." 

He said: "I knew that we were entering The Bolton News awards, I delegated that responsibility to my deputy to put us in for these awards. 

"It is very kind that she has been able to nominate me for the Headteacher of the Year award, and I do feel very honoured, I must be doing one or two things well!

"It was a real surprise to be honest! I didn't know that I was to be put forward for this award. 

"Even though we have listed the awards that we may have received, that links more to the awards for the things that the children need, such as the advanced autism accreditation. 

"It is not necessarily about acknowledgements about us, as it's not about us really, it's about the children." 

Congratulations also go to Nadine Harvey of Oxford Grove Primary, who was highly commended for this award.