Thank a Teacher Day 2023 is almost upon us, and we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store!

Education is a transformative journey, shaping lives from our earliest interactions. It’s a gift that opens doors to endless opportunities and possibilities. Schools, nurseries and colleges across the UK do a vital job in opening up those opportunities. They help to close equality gaps in our society, and bring communities together.

That’s why here at the Teaching Awards Trust we’ve been championing and celebrating the dedication of teachers and all those who work in education for the past 25 years.

Each year, we dedicate a special day to thanking teachers and support staff for the sacrifices they make to shape the minds and futures of our young people.

Thank a Teacher Day 2023 will take place on Wednesday 21^st June. We have so many exciting activities for you to get involved with. Join us to celebrate all the hard-working teachers, teaching assistants, caretakers, and office staff across the UK!

Reaching for the stars

We all know how important access to quality education is in shoring up our life chances, economic prospects, health, wellbeing, and personal development.

Which is why this year’s Thank a Teacher Day is highlighting the theme of education as a journey. The invaluable and long-lasting impact education has on all our lives cannot be overstated. And dedicated school, college and nursery staff are our guiding lights in the educational journey.

We’re so thankful for the daily effort they make to ensure the brightest possible futures for our young people. So, it’s time to shout out a great big “THANK YOU!” to everyone involved in the educational journey.

Join the countless children, young people, parents, carers, and school leaders set to get involved –  on 21^st June – in collective appreciation for the tireless efforts of teaching superstars all over the UK.

Ways to get involved

Children, students & parents

We have got so many awesome ways for you to get involved this Thank a Teacher Day. We’re already seeing so many messages sent to hard-working staff from super-grateful parents. Like this one sent just last week to Miss Jackson-Dodd of Ravenscote Junior School in Camberley:

“Thank you so much for your continued support and enthusiasm to ensure my child is included in all school activities and encouraged to do his best in class. Your dedication ensures he has the best chance to become a great student as he continues his journey into secondary school.”

As well as sending heartfelt messages to show your appreciation, there are so many other ways children can get involved…

Competitions:

Writing competition judged by Sir Michael Morpurgo

• Who doesn’t love a good story? If you love storytelling why not write a short story or poem about a teacher or another member of staff who has helped or supported you?
• Enter it into our writing competition by . Celebrated children’s author and former Children’s Laureate, Sir Michael Morpurgo will be doing the judging!

Baking Competition judged by Nadiya Hussain.

• Do you make a light and fluffy Victoria sponge? Or is a zingy lemon tart more your thing? Whether it’s cupcakes, brownies, or choc chip cookies, if you’re a keen baker you won’t want to miss out on this competition. All you have to do is:
  • Bake for a member of staff at your school
  • Take a photo or video of your bake and send it to us

Entries will be judged by none other than Nadiya Hussain who first shot to fame after delighting judges on The Great British Bake Off in 2015. Since then, she’s had her own TV shows, releasing a series of baking and cookery books.

Head here to find out more about our competitions…

Teachers

Don’t be shy, teachers! We know when we ask you to use our for Thank a Teacher Day you might feel a bit bashful. But remember, you don’t have to ask your students to write a card to you personally.

They can choose any member of staff they like.

• It could be the caretaker who stays late so they can run their after-school football club.
• Or it could be the teaching assistant who has helped them make so much progress with their reading.
• Or it could be that member of lunchtime staff who comforted them when they fell and scraped their knee.

Here’s a thank you message submitted by a student in the last couple of weeks, for Miss Laura Buckingham, a teaching assistant at The Henry Box School in Witney:

“Thank you for always being there for me and helping me when I needed it. You’ve been so much help and I want to say thank you!”

And a student at Farmor’s School in Fairford sent this in February, praising Mr Hockey for running the school’s football club:

“Thank you for teaching me this term. I have really enjoyed your lessons and football club. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done this term like arranging matches.”

We’d love to see some snaps of the thank you cards they create in your lessons. Share them on social media using the hashtags #WhoHelpedYou and #ThankATeacherDay. And don’t forget to tag us in on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

School leaders

Calling heads, deputy heads, and all those on the senior leadership team! Time to shine a light on the fantastic work your employees do every single day to improve the lives of young people.

Join the movement by:

• Delivering assemblies about gratitude and the importance of saying thank you. You can find downloadable resources on our website.
• Encouraging children and young people to create thank you cards and present them to your staff.
• Taking photos of the cards the classes create and share them on social media tagging us on Twitter @UKThankATeacher, on Facebook, or on Instagram @thankateacheruk using the hashtags #ThankATeacherDay and  #WhoHelpedYou
• Sending out newsletters to parents in advance of Thank a Teacher Day to let them know about the activities and the importance of the day. You can find communications you can use in your newsletters here.

And you can submit your own thank you messages. Why not let that stand-out member of staff know how much you appreciate them? Like this message, sent by Headteacher Andrea Atkinson of Royton & Crompton Academy in Oldham to Ms Maria Graham:

“A huge thank you for all the additional hours, time and dedication you have put in to ensure that Grease went ahead under the most difficult circumstances. You are an absolute star.  Thank you xx”

Or if you’re a headteacher, you can send a batch of thank you cards to everyone working in your school in one go! If you’d like to find out more, please contact us.

More to come…

Keep an eye on our social media channels for announcements about more competitions and other ways to get involved.

And as in previous years ,we are hoping that famous celebrities will be reading out your thank you messages on the day. So why not send a thank you message via our platform? It’s free and you could get a shout out on social media by your favourite celebrity on 21^st June!