Inspirational Fir Vale School teacher Tara Hall honoured for work helping Sheffield children read
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She won the silver award for secondary school teacher of the year, after guiding some of her pupils to make 11 months worth of progress in their reading in just three months.
She said: “I love working with young people. I love the challenge that every day brings and I really enjoy seeing pupils grow from lack of confidence into developing into mature young men and women, and keeping in touch with them when they leave. When they come back and let me know that they remember school, it’s lovely.”
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Hide AdIn 2021, with reading a major priority for her school, Tara began her most recent role supporting reading for those who need it most. A total of 76 per cent of her year eight reading class made huge progress this year with 62 per cent of them making over 11 months of progress in just three months.
Pearson National Teaching Award
Tara, who teaches English at Fir Vale School, on Owler Lane, was named as one of 80 Pearson National Teaching Award Silver Award winners across the country for her outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.
Tara started teaching in 1994, and by her second year of teaching she was in charge of key stage four English. She started as literacy co-ordinator at Fir Vale School in 1999 and has been a leader at all levels, from head of English to mentoring early career teachers and those in teacher training.
SCHOOLS: Sheffield teacher wins top award
She has led various successful projects, including behaviour for learning, classroom management, developing effective relationships with pupils, marking, literacy and encouraging reluctant readers.
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Hide AdPersonal circumstances led her to research attachment disorder and the importance of developing healthy and safe relationships in school.
She used this to contribute to the school’s Healthy Minds project.
As a Silver Award winner, Tara Hall has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “Congratulations to Tara Hall on this incredible achievement, and for the hard work and dedication which led up to it. Winning this award is impressive, well-deserved and shows Tara’s commitment to helping students achieve their full potential.”