Jackie starts a Saturday school with 4 learners in a church hall in Joubert Park and this soon
establishes itself as the Sparrow Saturday Morning School on Juta Street in Braamfontein.

Sparrow Schools opened its doors as a full time school in Eloff Street Ext, Johannesburg, with 20 teachers and 550 learners with barriers to learning.

Sparrow Schools Educational Trust is registered as a Non-Profit Organisation, with a board of trustees that will assist in building educational projects and with sourcing funding for current and future learners of Sparrow

Sparrow Schools primary school learners move from Eloff Street Ext, Johannesburg to The Foundation School, 1^st Avenue, Melville

Sparrow Skills Centre opened its doors.  This centre provided skills training to the disenfranchised youth of South Africa who have barriers to learning.

Jackie Gallagher awarded the FOYSA award for pioneering young leaders who have made a significant contribution to the South African society.

Sparrow Schools was awarded the Presidential Educational Award for the work done with children who have special needs.

Sparrow Schools was nominated for the Presidential Award for our participation and contribution towards Africa’s Educational Renaissance in South Africa. 

Sparrow Schools was awarded a certificate of Commendation from the lmpumelelo Innovations Award Programme in recognition of the innovative project aimed at reducing poverty.

Sparrow Schools takes a Cricket team to the UK on an official tour.

The Sparrow Combined School in Sophiatown opens its doors to Grade 8 and 9 learners, with bridging classes for both grades.

Sparrow Schools was nominated for the Ministerial Award for Excellence in the contribution towards HIV/AIDS education following a successful HIV/AIDS Awareness campaign in 2000.

Sparrow Schools was awarded the Hamlet Foundation Outstanding Achievement Award for the work we do with intellectually disadvantaged and learning disabled youth.

Jackie Gallagher was a finalist in the Clarins & Fair Lady Most Dynamisante Woman of the year competition.

Nelson Mandela visits Sparrow Combined School

Sparrow Schools achieved provisional accreditation with full compliance, and the   recommendation of full accreditation as a service provider with Umalusi, our ETQA

Nelson Mandela visits Sparrow Combined School

Jackie Gallagher was a finalist in the Mail & Guardian Investing in the future, Drivers of Change awards.

Jackie Gallagher was a finalist in the Southern Africa Social Entrepreneurship (SASE) Awards- Pinnacle Category (GIBS/ASHOKA).

Jackie Gallagher was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur Award: World Entrepreneur Awards in the Non-profit category

Jackie Gallagher is the winner of the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year Award - Education Category 

Sparrow Schools is one of the shortlisted candidates for the 2010 South African NGO Web Awards.

Sparrow Schools was nominated as one of the finalists in the NGO category at the 2012 Skills Development Summit. They won the Silver Award from lmpumelelo Innovations Centre for innovative work that is done to combat poverty through Education and Training in Gauteng.

Sparrow FET College, a social enterprise Training Provider opens its doors, to provide fully funded, accredited programmes and on-the-job training to main stream, previously disadvantaged youth of South Africa.

Sparrow Schools obtained a level 1 certificate for Sustainability from Growth Map through the Nedbank Foundation.

Sparrow started working in conjunction with the Government to pilot a Technical Skills School.

Sparrow FET College won the National Skills Authority Silver Award - Best TVET Placement Programme

Sparrow Schools Educational Trust is a Brand SA Runner up for most Influential NGO.