ONE teacher enjoyed an extra special send off on her final day of term when she bid farewell to pupils and staff at Sir Thomas Boteler High School. 

Geography teacher Vicky Lee was announced as the first high school teacher to win the Warrington Guardian’s teacher of the month award.

“When I was told that I was the first secondary teacher to win the award I was shocked. It’s a lovely accolade to receive,” said Miss Lee, who has been teaching for 12 years.

It was an emotional day for the hard-working teacher, who will start her new job at Holy Family Catholic High School in Sefton in September.

“I brought geography to a school where it was not very popular to having 78 pupils pick it for GCSE. It really excites me that the kids love it as much as I do.

“Geography is the most crucial subject for the future. You need to be able to understand how the world you live in interacts.”

Miss Lee first decided teaching was her destined career after falling in love with the subject at school.

“When I was 16 I knew that I wanted to carry on doing geography and the only way to pass on my love of geography was to go into teaching,” she said.

Pupils at the school on Grammar School Road have also fuelled her passion for Geography and caused her love of the subject to intensify.

“I’m going to miss the children. I have never met such a bunch of crazy, enthusiastic, homework-loving kids who are all lovely. Even though I have taught for 10 years before coming here I never met so many inspiring kids. Geography rocks!”

Miss Lee was nominated by 11-year-old Dylan Bamber, who will start his second year at the school in September.

He said: “When I first started the school she was always lovely to everyone. She is an inspiration to me and she made lessons fun.”

Each month, the Warrington Guardian celebrates the hard work, dedication and achievements of one deserving teacher in the town.

The award, which is sponsored by education recruitment and training consultancy Academic, honours a teacher who has made a real difference to the school community.

Nominations are currently closed but will reopen in September.