Mrs Libby Pryce
Teaching Awards 2008 Winner
The BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School
Pitt Street Infant School, MEXBOROUGH
In Libby Pryce’s class so many things happen. “You can bath big snails!” “You can make a home for worms!” “You can go in a fire engine and talk to the fire fighters!” “You can get to be Rama and Sita!”
This magical reception class teacher of 37 years makes learning a constant adventure. The children love it -- and they also make great progress. By the time they leave her class they are achieving above the national average in writing and speaking.
Libby was nominated by a newly qualified teacher colleague who says: “Her teaching inspires me, she is exciting, motivating and all her children are in awe of her. She is also a fantastic mentor; she makes me feel valued and supports me in every way. I just cannot put it into words how fantastic she is.”
One volunteer who started working in her class when his grand-daughter joined it is still there 13 years later. Although his grand-daughter is now 17, he can’t bear to leave.
School inspectors have praised the way she offers “a rich, broad and relevant curriculum” and parents say their children adore her. “She has given my daughter the best possible start in life,” says one. Libby holds a parent-teacher conference for every child when they first come into her class, and keeps in touch with parents during the year with a Reading Diary which pupils carry to and from school.
Libby is also a committed deputy head who leads her colleague with skill and wisdom, while always managing to hold the pupils at the centre of all she does.
She retains a real passion for the job and is constantly updating her skills and learning. She is particularly devoted to the role of creative arts in pupils’ development, and runs a popular after-school art class. Through her work the school has recently been awarded an Artmark Gold.
Judges noted the high standard of work done by pupils, often far more advanced than might be expected for their age group. One judge said: “To see her classroom, and those young people and the standards of work they were doing, made me wish my granddaughter lived nearby.”
When not in school she enjoys running and is passionate about watching Dancing on Ice.
