Lenny Henry joins a host of celebrities to launch 10 years of saying "thank you"
Famous faces, captured by celebrity photographer Rankin, are joining a national celebration to mark the tenth anniversary of the Teaching Awards.
Founded by Lord Puttnam CBE in 1998 to celebrate excellence in education, the Awards have thanked more than a thousand winning teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants and school governors, in the past decade for their outstanding work.
Reminding the nation that teachers transform young lives, the Teaching Awards anniversary launches with support from celebrities who are paying tribute to their own inspirational teachers.
Heralding a decade of success are Lenny Henry, Jon Snow, Jaime Winston, Rob Brydon, Philip Glenister and Alex James, alongside Bella Freud, Jemma Kidd and Claudia Winkleman. Each took part in a photo-shoot with photographer Rankin and described their inspirational teachers' positive influence.
Three Teaching Award winners were also photographed by Rankin and are the faces of the profession in the 2008 nominations campaign. The teachers are Claire Jerman, Karl Bardouille and Robert Barber MBE.
Their portraits are printed on posters and postcards sent to schools across the UK this week urging pupils, parents and colleagues to say thank you by nominating an inspirational teacher, teaching assistant or school governor.
Jaime Winstone, actress, said; “I wasn’t exactly a model student, and to be honest I must have been a bit of a nightmare at times, but if it wasn’t for my teachers having faith and steering me in the right direction, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. So thank you!”
Lenny Henry, comedian, said: "I have nothing but big respect for teachers. Young people need that lightbulb moment in their lives in order to push through and gain some self esteem - and any teacher that can engender this process is incredibly valuable."
