Scotch Orchard teacher won award: A Lichfield teacher has been presented with one of the education sector’s top honours after being praised for his “unwavering commitment to inspiring children”.
Jacob Burns, from Scotch Orchard Primary School, has been named a Silver Award winner in the Teacher of the Year category at the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
He will now be considered for the Gold Award, with the winner due to be announced at a ceremony in London and on BBC One’s The One Show later this year.
Mr Burns was nominated following praise from parents and school leaders for the learning culture he has created in his Year 6 classroom.
Parents, pupils and leaders have described his lessons as “irresistible”, praising his ability to bring learning to life and spark curiosity among children.
Head of School James Chapman said: “We’re thrilled that a Scotch Orchard teacher won this prestigious award – and Mr Burns truly deserves it.
“He consistently creates an ambitious classroom where high expectations are matched by engaging, responsive teaching that values pupil voice and ensures every child feels challenged and supported.
“Mr Burns also models the qualities of a lifelong learner, regularly drawing on educational research to enrich his practice and sharing age-appropriate ideas from his own professional reading.
“I remember walking into his classroom and seeing him read Daniel Willingham’s Why Don’t Students Like School? He was helping pupils understand how learning happens and sharing his own reflections on times he wished he had asked for more support at school.
“His unwavering commitment to inspiring children and creating a classroom where learning is genuinely irresistible makes him a highly deserving nominee for this award.”
The school said Mr Burns’ work has led to strong outcomes, with pupils making better-than-expected progress and many asking for additional work to complete at home because of their enthusiasm for learning.
Mr Burns is among 99 teachers, lecturers, leaders, support staff and education settings named as Silver Winners in this year’s awards, announced on National Thank a Teacher Day.
The Pearson National Teaching Awards and National Thank a Teacher Day are run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity founded more than 25 years ago to celebrate the impact of education.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “On Thank a Teacher Day, we stop to appreciate the extraordinary lengths teachers go to every single day to inspire the young people in their classrooms.
“I know more than most how great teachers shape young lives. So, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your dedication, your commitment and your hunger to help your pupils go on to live better, more fulfilling lives.”