'Selfless' Bromsgrove primary school teacher nominated for award

Emma Mardell, a Year Four teacher at The Orchards School has been nominated for Teacher of the Year at this year’s Worcestershire Education Awards.

The 28-year-old has been described as ‘amazing, wonderful and selfless’ who deserves the award.

Emma was nominated by parent, Sadie Roberts, whose child she taught last year.

Sadie said the school year was the ‘best school year of his life’.

She said her son went from ‘not getting anywhere at school’ to within a few weeks ‘enjoyed getting up in a morning’.

“I speak for every parent that had Emma Mardell teaching their child last year that she really does deserve this,” added Sadie.

“The whole class became best friends and continue to be.

“The year that Emma taught them I believe she really made the biggest and best impact on those children."

Emma said she was ‘emotional’ when she found out she had been nominated.

“It’s nice to be recognised for how hard we work,” said Emma, who lives in Kidderminster.

“I do it for the children so to be recognised by a parent is lovely.

“I am really grateful.”

Emma said her mother, who died unexpectedly in January 2021, encouraged her to become a teacher.

She added: "The children, staff and parents really helped me through a hard time. 

"My mum encouraged me to be a teacher and she never got to see me achieve that."

Worcestershire Education Awards. (Image: Newsquest)

The Worcestershire Education Awards in partnership with the University of Worcester has 12 categories and runs across all of our Worcestershire titles – the Worcester News, Malvern Gazette, Evesham Journal, Bromsgrove & Droitwich Advertiser, Redditch Advertiser and Kidderminster Shuttle.

The closing date for nominations is Monday, February 13.

The awards will culminate in a black tie event on Thursday, April 20, at 7pm at the Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern.

Nominations take just a few minutes. To nominate someone click here.