Ed Coetzer, a houseparent at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire, has been named as the first winner of the Stephen Winkley Boarding Achievement Award. The award has been introduced by the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) and was presented at the BSA’s annual conference for heads at The Imperial War Museum. The award is named in memory of Stephen Winkley, former headmaster of Uppingham School and Rossall School, who died last year and marks the contribution of someone from the ‘boarding family’.
Ed Coetzer, who comes from South Africa, has worked at Lord Wandsworth College since 2008. He was nominated by headmaster Fergus Livingstone who described him as “an outstanding houseparent… utterly selfless, totally committed, humble and big-hearted” and commented that “the whole community benefits from all that he does”.
Receiving his award from BSA vice-chair Leo Winkley, son of Stephen Winkley and head of St Peter’s School York, Ed said he was “honoured” to be the first winner: “I am passionate about working in boarding and supporting the amazing pupils in my boarding house. Seeing them develop and flourish through a strong and positive boarding experience is wonderful.”
BSA national director Robin Fletcher said: ‘Thousands of professionals work tirelessly to provide boarding of the highest quality to over 75,000 students across the UK. The Stephen Winkley Boarding Achievement Award recognises the outstanding commitment of boarding staff and we are delighted our first award has gone to such a worthy winner.”
