An Assistant Headteacher from Smethwick has clinched a top award for her teaching – at the very school she went to as a child.

Bethany Barnsley, who works at Devonshire Infant and Junior Academies, picked up a silver award in the 2018 Pearson Teaching Awards.

Selected from thousands of nominations, Bethany is one of just 65 winners who were celebrated last Friday on 'Thank A Teacher Day'. Bethany, who is also the school’s SENCO, attended the school as a pupil and she has worked at Devonshire Academies since qualifying as a teacher.

She was presented with her prestigious Silver Pearson Teaching Awards trophy at a special ceremony by Executive Headteacher, Sharron Philpot and Robert Craig, representing Pearson. The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.

Bethany, who has worked at the school for ten years, said she felt lucky to work with her colleagues and pupils at Devonshire. She said:

“I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have received a Silver Award for Excellence in Special Educational Needs Education. I'm very lucky to work with such incredible children at Devonshire Academies.

"The award is a testament to the fantastic teams that work so hard and continually strive for the best for our young people.”

Bethany will now join fellow Silver Award winners, along with three Scottish Education Award winners and three winners of the Professional Teaching Awards Cymru, at the 20th UK Ceremony of the Pearson Teaching Awards held in central London on 21 October. Sharron Philpot, Executive Headteacher at Devonshire Infant and Junior Academies, which is part of Victoria Academies Trust said:

“This is such a well-deserved award. Bethany is a true inspiration to all who work with her. The impact she makes on the lives of children in our schools, and more widely within the trust is incredible. It is a proud moment for everyone who knows her.”

The October ceremony, titled “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.