Teacher who inspired thousands of children presented with award for her dedication

Burnley College Sixth Form Centre were proud to present Janet Ennis, retiring Deputy Head at Padiham Green Primary School, with an ‘Inspirational Teacher’ Award at the 2016 East Lancashire Education Awards in July.

The awards, which were sponsored by Burnley College Sixth Form Centre and held at the college for the fifth year, celebrated outstanding school staff and students in the East Lancashire area and presented awards including “Primary and Secondary School Pupils of the Year”.

Mrs Ennis, who won “Inspirational Teacher of the Year” served as deputy headteacher at Padiham Green Primary School for an incredible 26 years.

Burnley College Assistant Principal Alison Cameron-Brandwood presented Janet with her award at the Ceremony and said: “What a wonderful accolade and fitting end to a truly magical career.

“It is wonderful for me to be able to present an award to a teacher who has inspired local children in Burnley for almost 40 years. Burnley College are proud to have sponsored and hosted both the ceremony and this award for a number of years now and it is a lovely way to celebrate the unsung heroes within our community.”

Nursing an ambition to become a teacher from the age of seven, Mrs Ennis studied at the Padgate College of Higher Education in Warrington and her first posting was to Padiham Primary School. This was followed by a spell at Burnley’s Holy Trinity Primary where Mrs Ennis’ idea to use computers within the curriculum earned her a role as an advisory teacher to 83 schools at the very start of modern technology.

Mrs Ennis has undertaken a variety of roles at Padiham Green, including nine years in reception class and teaching all key stages. When the original school burned down in 1991 Mrs Ennis was there to help steer pupils through an unsettling three years before the new building in St Anne’s Street finally rose from the ashes.