Teacher is top of the class

A dedicated teacher has been recognised for her commitment by a Burnley recruitment firm.
Katie Smith and Lauren NightingaleKatie Smith and Lauren Nightingale
Katie Smith and Lauren Nightingale

Katie Smith from Coal Clough Academy was awarded the Outstanding Teacher of the term award.

Lauren Nightingale, recruitment consultant at Hays Education in Burnley, presented the award to Katie in recognition of her work as a hugely dedicated teacher. Since joining the school in November to teach sports science, Katie has gone above and beyond in her role and has already made an impact to the students at Coal Clough.

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Holly Clarke, deputy headteacher at Coal Clough Academy said: “Katie is a well-respected member of our team, who has certainly contributed to the speed in which we have progressed to an almost ‘outstanding’ school.

Katie is a huge part of the team which dedicates their time and efforts into supporting the pupils in our care.”

Having secured funding for the PE department which has been used to buy new football kits, Katie is trying to gain more bids in order to develop the department further.

In addition to this, Katie has also taken on extra responsibilities, including delivering intervention classes to pupils which has seen three year 10 students enter their GCSE examinations a year early and is also mentoring a PGCE trainee teacher at the school.

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Katie said: “I am really grateful to have been given this award and I feel that I owe a big thank you to the Coal Clough staff and Hays for its on-going support. Coal Clough is a fantastic place to work and I look forward to progressing my career here.”

In her second year of teaching, making learning fun was key for getting students to engage and achieving results in her classes. Katie has organised and led residential and planning new activities and has also overseen modules for teamwork, healthy living and PHSE.

Lauren Nightingale said: “We are pleased to be able to recognise the vital role that our excellent teachers play in schools across East Lancashire. Teachers like Katie show how much of an impact supply teachers can make on a school and its pupils. We extend our congratulations to Katie on her award.”

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