A primary school teacher with a "natural" flair for helping children reach their potential has been nominated for a prestigious education award. 

Sarah Whittaker teaches at Lickey Hills Primary School in Bromsgrove and is a vital member of the team going above and beyond to support her students. 

She has been nominated in the Teacher of the Year category for the Worcestershire Education Awards 2024 by assistant headteacher Helen Bowen. 

Ms Bowen said: "Anyone who meets Sarah would think that she has been a teacher for all of her life, and yet this is only her second year of teaching. She really is a natural, ensuring that children are given every opportunity to achieve their potential.

"She has endless kindness and empathy for those in her care, so that they feel safe in their learning to have a go and to try their very best. Sarah is a wonderful colleague to all in our school, always prepared to go the extra mile to help and support. 

"We would love to take this opportunity to thank her for all she does and also to help her see how good she really is and how much she is valued." 

Reacting to the nomination, Ms Whittaker said: "I was shocked and delighted to be nominated for the award.  I have worked in education for almost 20 years in various roles from administrator to student mentor and whilst a parent volunteer at Lickey Hills decided teaching was definitely for me. 

"Following this I took the plunge and successfully gained a Schools Direct place with Woodrush Teaching Alliance with one of my placements at Lickey Hills Primary School. During my time on placement, I secured a year 2 class teacher job at Lickey and haven't looked back.

"I feel so blessed to have the most incredible job in the world with fantastic colleagues, parents and best of all wonderful children who truly brighten every day. No two days are the same and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

The Worcestershire Education Awards shine a spotlight on those who continue to make a difference in the field of education and are organised by Newsquest - publishers of the Worcester News, Malvern Gazette, Evesham Journal, Bromsgrove and Droitwich Advertiser, Redditch Advertiser and Kidderminster Shuttle.

Culminating in a glitzy black-tie dinner, the awards seek to reward those members of the teaching and education sector for their hard work both in the classroom and behind the scenes.

It only takes a few minutes to make a nomination just visit https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/worcestershireeducationawards/

The closing date for nominations is February 11, 2024.

If you would like to sponsor the awards please contact sales event manager Debra Orr on 07739 820690 or email debra.orr@localiq.co.uk.