Jackie Birch works at St. Peter's C of E Primary School in
Wigan, Greater Manchester. In 2021, she won The Award
for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School at the Pearson
National Teaching Awards.
How did it feel to win the Gold Award, and have it
presented to you by some of your celebrity heroes on The One
Show?
It has been an amazing experience. Like most teachers, I work
with a great team of people, so simply being nominated was
incredibly humbling. Not for one minute did I think that I would
win! I’m just doing my job and I’m very fortunate that it’s a job
I love.
There was lots of secrecy around school on the day that the BBC
came to film the clip for The One Show. It felt very surreal for
the cameras and Mehreen Baig to be in the classroom. It was such
a surprise when I saw the message from Janette Manrara and to
then have Katya Jones visit. To receive a further message from
Sir Rod Stewart was truly wonderful, it was a day that I will
never forget. The positivity and feel-good factor for me
personally, for our school and for the local community that has
come from this award has been immeasurable. Eleven months later
and I am still asked about it!
How did you transfer skills from your previous roles
in housing and social care, to teaching?
In my time working in housing and social services, I felt I made
a difference to people who really needed help. As I reflected on
a starting a career in teaching, I knew those skills would be
useful in the classroom context.
My experience gave me valuable skills in dealing with a range of
people, helping me become a more approachable and relatable
person that parents can talk to. I also found, as a parent, that
it was very difficult to speak to my children’s teacher at the
start and end of the day. As a result, I make myself available
for all our parents. Their child is important, and they deserve
for me to give them and their child my time and best efforts.
How do you set pupils up for success – are there any
particular tools you use to increase their motivation and
engagement with learning?
Our school and Trust have made major improvements in how we use
digital technology to empower pupils to control their own
learning and prepare them to thrive in today’s digital world. All
of our children in KS2 have an tablet and each class in KS1 and
EYFS have a number of tablets to share. This gives children
access to a range of learning opportunities, both inside and
outside of the school day. Students have developed their digital
skills, are able to set their own goals and their learning is
personalised - helping them to achieve their full potential.
We also talk to them daily about resilience and giving their
best. I try to instil these values into children and foster a
belief that they can achieve. It is important for us all to
recognise that outside factors can affect children and it is our
job to make sure that their emotional, physical, and educational
needs are met during challenging times.
What gets you up in the morning and motivates you to
teach?
Seeing a child’s face and hearing their response when you have
engaged them with their learning gives me all the confirmation I
need that this is my vocation, not just my job. The most
rewarding aspect of my job is seeing children’s confidence
increase. Also nurturing their self-belief - encouraging them to
persevere and overcome obstacles to achieve their goal.
Nominate your colleagues for a National Teaching
Award
Entries for the 2023 National Teaching Awards are now open.
The awards are free and there are 16 individual and team
categories covering the early years, primary, secondary and FE
sectors, open to schools and colleges across the UK.
Visit the National Teaching
Awards website to enter now
