A TEACHER has been given full marks by the Queen after nearly 40 years of service to education.

Sue Fila, who teaches autistic children at Crowdy’s Hill School, has been awarded an MBE in this year’s Birthday Honours list.

The mother-of-two, who is in charge of Key Stage 3, said she was honoured to have been chosen.

“I arrived home from school and there was a letter from the Cabinet Office, which shocked me.

“When I opened it up I thought it was a hoax, I thought it was somebody having a joke because it came out of the blue,” she said.

“I am delighted, not just for myself it is nice for long service in education to be recognised. There is never a dull day in teaching, that is the joy of the job.

“The kids are wonderful, the kids at this school especially. Most of the children I work with are autistic. My class this year have been an absolute delight.”

Sue, who lives in Highworth, has been teaching at Crowdy’s Hill School, which caters for children with complex learning difficulties, for eleven years.

She started her career in East London and later worked as a special needs coordinator at Westrop Primary School in Highworth.

She worked in the moderate learning difficulties unit at Pinehurst Junior School for 10 years and has been working at Crowdy’s Hill School for 11 years.

Sue, who is not sure who nominated her, will be heading to St James’ Palace to receive the award.

Headteacher Peter Crockett said: “We are really pleased to have somebody in the school staff who has been recognised for their excellent work within special needs. It is a well deserved honour and we are really pleased for her. “ An MBE has also been awarded to PC Mike Diffin for services to police.

Chief Constable, Pat Geenty, said: “Mike is an outstanding police officer who has worked hard responding to the needs of the community he serves.

“He has demonstrated immense flexibility and commitment in building relationships. His dedication, skill and knowledge make him a role model for other officers.

“Mike is thoroughly deserving of his MBE and I am delighted that his achievements have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.”

PC Diffin joined Wiltshire Police in 2001 and began his first period as a community beat manager in Broad Green in 2003 where he set up Street Watch with the local community to address prostitution.

The group helped to reduce the number of street workers from 42 to three.

He moved to the Tutor Unit in 2005 where he excelled as a tutor constable setting up, with others, the Tutoring and Assessment of the probationers' new model. And in July 2009 he returned as the CBM for Broad Green. The nomination sent to the Queen described his work with the Muslim community to help three feuding groups reach a solution.