Students from Local School Win Baking Competition Judged by Nadiya Hussain

Two siblings at a school in Walkley have won the National Thank a Teacher Day’s #HowWillYouSayThankYou Baking Competition, judged by author, television presenter and Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, beating out entries from across the UK. Alicia and Ella from St. Mary’s CE Academy baked a cookie to celebrate the staff at their school that was judged to be the best in the nation by the renowned baker. 

The #HowWillYouSayThankYou Baking Competition was among several competitions run by National Thank a Teacher Day in the lead up to celebrations on June 23, and the winners were announced last week. The Baking Competition asked pupils and students in the UK to bake something special – whether a cookie or a cake – to demonstrate their gratitude to their teacher. To enter, they simply had to upload a video or photo of their baked goods and send a free thank you message via the Thank a Teacher website. 

Alicia and Ella will receive a certificate and £100 in book vouchers to spend on cookery books for their efforts, and also had the added bonus of a virtual congratulations message from Nadiya herself which was published on Twitter. 

The Thank a Teacher campaign is a year-around effort to draw attention to the amazing work of

teachers, schools and support staff across the UK, culminating with Thank a Teacher day. Anyone can send a card; children, students, parents, grandparents and colleagues can all say thank you. The Thank a Teacher campaign recognises all staff working in schools; school leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, and all support staff such as lunchtime supervisors, caretakers and cleaners.

This year’s Thank a Teacher Day on June 23 was a huge success, with key figures including Boris Johnson, Gavin Williamson, David Walliams, Pixie Lott, Dame Arlene Philips, Shaun the Sheep and more tweeting their support. 

Alicia and Ella, winners of the #HowWillYouSayThankYou Baking Competition, said: 

​​”We love baking and how baking brings people together. We loved watching Nadiya baking on the GBBO, she made us want to bake! This is one of our favourite activity to do, we learn about ingredients, their history, the maths and measurements. We wanted to thank our school and particularly our teachers who have been so good to us, being supportive and caring.

We are very happy to have won but we are also thinking of all the other children who didn’t win, you all did great!”

Karen Miller, Head of School at St Mary’s CE Academy, said: 

“We were delighted to find out that Alicia and Ella had won the Thank A Teacher Day Baking Competition with their delicious cookie and we are incredibly proud of their achievement. The Thank A Teacher Day was celebrated throughout school with pupils wearing something sparkly and going out of their way to show all staff in school how much they appreciate everything they do. The Thank A Teacher Day is a very special day in our school calendar, and Alicia and Ella winning the competition was a lovely added bonus.”

Nadiya Hussain MBE, author, Television presenter and Bake Off Champion, said:

“I have loved looking through all the wonderful treats that were baked and decorated by young people to celebrate and thank all of their fantastic teachers. I want to say a massive congratulations to the winners Alicia and Ella for their cookie thanking all the staff at St Mary’s CE Academy and thank you to everyone who entered the competition!”

ENDS

Note to Editors

About Thank a Teacher Day 

The Thank a Teacher Campaign is run by The Teaching Awards Trust which was established in 1998 by Lord David Puttnam CBE, to celebrate and recognise excellence in education.

Every year on National Thank A Teacher Day schools, colleges, teachers and support staff are celebrated across the country and the Silver Winners of the Pearson National Teaching Awards are announced.

Anyone can send a card to any member of staff working in UK schools and colleges; school leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, and all support staff such as lunchtime supervisors, caretakers and cleaners. You can even send your card to the whole school/college. Thank A Teacher is open all year round.