Second local man awarded BBC North West Christmas Star Award

Local man David Yates has received a Christmas Star Award from BBC North West Tonight.

Interim principal of Litherland High School in Merseyside since 2019, David has devoted himself to keep students learning and feeling positive throughout the national lockdown – not only during, but also after – making himself available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to his pupils and their families.

Although headteacher of a school in Liverpool, David lives, and has lived, in the Norden and Bamford area all his life. He was previously employed as headteacher of Heywood Community High School, which was demolished in late 2010.

Mr Yates began live streaming on the high school’s Facebook page in June following the success of a video the school produced – covering ‘Is this the way to Amarillo’ made famous by comedian Peter Kay – for Mental Health Awareness Week.

The school soon formed a group called 'Livo Singers' and shared uplifting song covers to their growing social media audience.

 

 

David said: “We just wanted to spread a bit of happiness and try to keep spirits high during Mental Health Awareness Week, but I soon found that social media was a great way to communicate with the community.

“We all know that is has been a really challenging year - the word unprecedented has been used many times - but we’ve tried to turn it into a great opportunity and really connect with families more.

“During lockdown, we were making weekly phone calls to every student, some needed three or four phone calls a week, but we went the extra mile I believe by using the power of social media. I tried to replicate the daily briefings the Prime Minister was running at the time by hosting weekly Facebook Live question and answer sessions with parents on Mondays, just to allay fears and talk about the future.

“The live sessions would have around 100 people watching, but as they were recorded, it meant that parents could go back and watch the videos again for answers to any questions they had.

“On Fridays we would also host game shows on the school’s Facebook for families to have a bit of fun. We hosted all the classics from Bullseye, Catchphrase and Play Your Cards Right, as well as general quizzes.

“I think the parents really appreciated the online sessions because I always gave honest feedback. It became a really good focus group within the community.”

 

 

Since pupils returned to school in September, Mr Yates has continued to run live Q&A sessions every Monday at 3.30pm. He says that when schools return in January, he ‘will get the weekly sessions going again, so families can keep up to speed’.

After filming with the BBC for what he thought was a news piece on the school, Mr Yates was presented the Christmas Star Award by BBC North West Tonight on Friday 4 December in a surprise announcement by his colleague.

Announcing he had been chosen for the award, a member of staff at the school said: “We nominated you for all the amazing things you have done for our school, students, their families, and staff. You deserve it.”

On his award, David added: “I’ve never won anything. It’s a real honour, a privilege. I do see teaching as a vocation, a way of life. But genuinely, the staff and the students give me the energy as well. I am really pleased and thank you very much.

“I’m very proud to be the headteacher of Litherland, and it has been an honour to witness the community getting behind the school, and the school getting behind the community throughout unprecedented times.”