WOMBWELL PARK STREET PRIMARY

SCHOOL NEWS

Mrs Susan Carr - Teaching Awards 2009 Winner

The Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement in North of England

Wombwell Park Street Primary School, BARNSLEY

Susan Carr has devoted her life to the pupils at Wombwell Park Street Primary School. Two generations of some families have passed through her class, and those who have been lucky enough to have been taught by Susan never forget her!

Susan sees education as a never-ending process, and ensures her pupils have the best possible start in life. She leads the Early Years Unit with incredibly high standards and expectations of all. Only the very best will do for Susan, and her philosophy is that you only get one chance to make a difference to a child.

Colleagues say Susan is the prime mover in all key developments at our school, working with “super human” energy. She deals with educational change as a challenge rather than a problem. She has tailored the Early Years Foundation Stage to meet the needs of every child, and reports back to parents regularly on their child’s progress. Susan provides an oasis of calm, in which children are nurtured and valued and are given the freedom and encouragement to develop their confidence, social skills and learning. Susan is not afraid of trying new things. She has developed learning activities such as ‘Welly Walk Wednesday’ giving children opportunities to learn through real experience, and has engaged with the Forest Schools initiative. She believes in developing her own learning and recently achieved a TLA 2 accreditation. Susan has also completed the Leading from the Middle programme from NCSL, which she said gave her a new lease of life. She is “a shining example” in her way she engages wholeheartedly in learning.

A colleague said: “Any opportunity which presents itself, Sue grabs hold of. She is not afraid of hard work and relishes new challenges. She knows what makes people tick and has adapted her own style of learning and leadership to move others forward.”

Outside of the classroom, Susan runs an infant choir and a cookery club, and organises family learning workshops.

Judges said that Susan had made a “life-changing difference to a generation of under-fives”. Her love of the job has not diminished and she will be loss to future generations when she retires.”

AND WE SAY - Congratulations Mrs Carr!

We are all very proud of her indeed and it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person.

The judges told us that “No one else even came close!”

What an amazing day I had on June 19th when I attended the Teaching Awards presentation ceremony. I went totally unprepared to be the winner of the Ted Wragg Lifetime Achievement Award for the north of England, and so it came as a great shock when my name was announced.

It was an honour to accept the award in recognition of all the colleagues, family, friends, parents and children who have supported me so generously with their testimonials, good wishes and affirmation throughout the nomination and judging process, and all the countless others who have enriched and blessed my life. Thank you too for the many cards, flowers and messages since the award was announced.

I have always endeavoured to do my best because I believe that the only way to get the best out of others is to give the best of yourself. Children are very precious and are our hope for the future. They deserve the best we can give them. Who knows what a child can achieve with the right teacher to listen to their dreams, encourage every effort and affirm every step, and what a responsibility, but also what a pleasure and a privilege it is to try to be a good teacher.

Here's the article from Teacher Magazine