Hackney headteacher given heartwarming surprise award by Ghanaian counterpart

Gregory Logan being handed his award by Janet Obiri-Yeboah in front of his pupils. Photograph: courtesy BlackJac Media

A local headteacher was “truly humbled” after being surprised with an award by a counterpart who had travelled all the way from Ghana.

Daubeney Primary School chief Gregory Logan was given a ‘Citation of Honour’ on behalf of Deacons Academy Foundation School in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.

Logan was recognised for supporting Deacons through mentoring, donating equipment and fostering links between the two sets of pupils.

Deacons principal Janet Obiri-Yeboah made the journey to Hackney to present Logan with his award, along with an original kente garment worn by royals in northern Ghana.

Kente is a traditional Ghanaian textile, woven from silk and cotton, and has become a symbol of the country’s cultural identity.

Logan said: “It is beautiful being able to support all children and this international connection is excellent because it makes our pupil’s experience richer.

“I have never received an award before so to be recognised on this level is truly humbling.”

Obiri-Yeboah and Logan with Deacons Academy patron Juliet Bremmer. Photograph: courtesy BlackJac Media

Obiri-Yeboah trained as a teacher in the UK and worked as a librarian at City and Islington College before heading back to Africa 10 years ago to open a primary school.

She was introduced to Logan by Juliet Coley Bremmer, a children’s book publisher and retired deputy headteacher from Hackney who is a patron of Deacons Academy.

The collaboration has supported an international ‘Smiles Across the Miles’ pen pal programme between Year 5 students, as well as a library that is set to open in October in the Paradise K-Boat area of Accra.

Bremmer and young authors from her publishing house, Young LIT Stars, also raised over £20,000 in cash, equipment, books and furniture to redecorate and refurbish Deacons Academy’s school library.

Obiri-Yeboah paid tribute to both Logan and Bremmer: “Without Gregory the children would not be able to enjoy premium resources and furniture.

“Juliet and her authors raised funds to laminate the library floor and paint and decorate the walls which now looks amazing.

“Gregory provided imported resources and connected me to the amazing Claire Williams and her team from the charity Business 2 Schools and they were brilliant and so generous with their support.”

Bremmer added: “Reading is such an important skill with children. Knowledge, vocabulary, imagination and communication are just a few of the benefits so supporting a library project that supports this is a no brainer.

“When I spoke to Gregory about Deacons Academy and the support they needed, he did not hesitate. The citation he received is well deserved.”

Pupils from Deacons Academy have written their introduction letters to their Daubeney pen pals and are said to be eagerly anticipating the replies.

Two years ago, Bremmer helped 19 pupils from Deacons become published authors.