HEAD teacher Jo Holmes scooped up the title of teacher of the year after her inspirational vision saw a rise in the number of top grades.

After working as a teacher at Brook Acre Primary School for nine years before becoming the head of school in 2009, Jo calls the school on Hilden Road her ‘home away from home’.

“It has been a team effort to get the school to where it is today,” said Jo. “The school is like a family to me and everyone has supported each other.”

From creating an education tardis in a cupboard to finding space to fit in an unexpected cohort of 35 pupils, Jo has transformed the school into a place that provides the best staff mentoring, teaching practice and pupil experience.

Jo has been the driving force behind the school’s achievements and has shown unrelenting commitment and dedication during her 11 years working at Brook Acre Primary School.

Even after an operation on her angle, which involved breaking it and then resetting it, Jo came in to project manage a total refurbishment of the school at extremely short notice.

But despite her unrelenting hard work, Jo dedicated the award to all the teachers and staff at the school.

Jo said: “The staff have always motivated me and they have been great. It’s going to be great to look back and think I’ve been a part of the changes.”