AN inspirational teacher has been recognised as one of the best in the country.

Sarah Day is an engineering teacher at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and was awarded the Bronze Award for BTEC Pearson Teacher of the Year 2020.

The awards recognise exceptional performance by learners and educators.

Sarah was nominated earlier this academic year by her colleague Stephanie Payne.

The design and technology Key Stage 4 co-ordinator at the academy said: “I was absolutely blown away to hear I had won the bronze award and couldn’t have achieved it without lots of other people’s support.

“Steph and I are a team, so collaborating with someone equally as enthusiastic about engineering really does help keep our ideas fresh.

“The school has allowed me to grow the subject from 50 pupils in one year group to over 250 students in years 10 to 13.”

Stephanie said that since taking on the subject of engineering six years ago, Sarah has inspired students.

It has become the most popular and successful subject at the school.

She said: “Sarah organises trips and visits from engineers and past students in industry who inspire our learners and help to drive the subject forward.

“The passion and dedication Sarah shows for the subject of engineering is huge.

“She strives to get the best from her students and inspires the next generation of engineers.

“She is passionate about encouraging more girls into engineering.

“Each year we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, which helps to raise the profile of women engineers, and each year we see more girls joining the BTEC engineering course.

“At RWBA and we are proud to help inspire girls into a subject that is still male-dominated.”

Headteacher Anita Ellis said she is proud of Sarah’s achievement. “Sarah has made a terrific impact on engineering at RWBA, and this award is thoroughly deserved,” she said.

“Engineering can have a huge impact on the environment and how the future of the planet plays out.

“Behind the headlines of Britain being able to go over two months without burning coal is a vast array of engineers and designers who are setting the path to a greener future.

“RWBA looks forward to inspiring lots more budding engineers to help move our world forward.”