Our Patrons and Supporters
Michael Morpurgo (President)
The President of the Teaching Awards Trust is celebrated author and former Children’s laureate Michael Morpurgo. Mr Morpurgo joined the Trust in June 2017, and supports the charity’s mission to celebrate excellence in education through the annual Pearson Teaching Awards and the Thank a Teacher Campaign.
Mr Morpurgo says: “Becoming an inspirational teacher is a serious, admirable commitment. And memorable, outstanding teaching should be celebrated by educators, pupils, parents and throughout society. With these awards we’re taking the time to recognise the remarkable, often unappreciated efforts of fantastic teachers up and down the country.”
Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. With a writing career that spans 4 decades, he has written over 100 books, selling more than 5 million copies in the UK and over 35 million worldwide. A former Children’s Laureate, Michael has won countless prizes, including the Smarties prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award, and was awarded an OBE for Services to Literature. Michael was also awarded an MBE in 1999, along with his wife Clare, in recognition of their work in founding Farms For City Children, a charity that has enabled 100,000 children to visit the charity’s 3 farms over the last 40 years.
Mehreen Baig (Patron)
Mehreen Baig is a former teacher and trailblazing broadcaster and writer, who is passionate about education and empowering young women. she has emerged as an influential voice across a range of topics including feminism, race and gender equality and faith.
We are delighted to have her support as Patron of the Thank A Teacher campaign.
“I am so excited to become a patron for an organisation that highlights the incredible work that teachers are doing, celebrates them and gives them the value they deserve. Especially as a former teacher, supporting this campaign is a great honour for me.”
Bobby Seagull (Patron)
We are delighted to have Bobby’s support as Patron of the Thank A Teacher campaign. School maths teacher and Cambridge University Doctorate student. Bobby is a regular contributor to Radio Four’s Puzzle For Today and a columnist for the Financial Times. He is author of The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers and co-presenter of the podcast Maths Appeal. With his University Challenge friend, he co-wrote The Monkman & Seagull Quiz Book and co-presented two series of the BBC TV road trip Monkman & Seagull’s Genius Guide to Britain. Bobby is the resident brain on Channel 4’s new quiz show The Answer Trap. He is also National Numeracy ambassador and UK Libraries Champion. Outside of work, Bobby is a long-suffering West Ham fan!
“I’m thrilled to support the National Thank a Teacher campaign. As well as being a part-time Maths teacher and a great advocate for all aspects of education, I’m really keen for my fellow teachers across the UK to get the recognition they deserve. Teachers are unsung heroes who do far more than stand up in front of a class. They are mentors who change lives through inspiring the next generation. The National Thank a Teacher campaign is a unique opportunity to say thank you and should be embraced”
Dame Helen Mirren (Supporter)
Image by David Venni
‘As someone who had an extraordinary teacher, I am very pleased to support the National Thank a Teacher Campaign. My own journey began with a great English teacher – Mrs Welding. She revealed to me the power of literature and recognised my need to live in that world of imagination and poetry. She alone was the person who encouraged me to be an actor. When I met her some years ago, I thanked her and she said “I was just doing my job”. Mrs Welding died in 2014 at the age of 102 and I will be forever grateful for her encouragement. I know many people have benefited from an inspirational teacher. Let’s thank those great teachers who inspire.”
Helen Mirren is a revered, award-winning actress whose film and TV work includes ‘Prime Suspect,’ ‘Caligula,’ ‘Shadowboxer,’ ‘Elizabeth I’ and ‘The Queen.’
Joe Wicks (Supporter)
“I would like to thank my teacher Mr Williams. You remember teaching me at Blenheim High School and I loved you, you were such a great inspiration, and you really gave me that motivation to come back to sport and to set that vision and dream of becoming a PE teacher myself. Thank you so much for your inspiration and here I am helping millions of people to get active, and you really had a massively important role in that, thank you so much!”
We are thrilled to have Joe Wicks MBE as a supporter of National Thank a Teacher Day. Joe is a much-loved British fitness coach, TV presenter and best-selling author. Joe has helped motivate millions of people to change their lifestyles through his fitness plans and nutritious cook books.
Will Poulter (Supporter)
“My sister Charlie works in a school and she’s amazing, like many teachers she’s something of an unsung hero and takes on a huge responsibility to not only educate but take care of the wellbeing of young people. I want to say thank you to Charlie and all of her colleagues. If you want to recognise someone who works in your school and thank them, you can send them a free personalised e-card at www.thankateacher.co.uk. It’s all about recognising the work of teachers and people in the teaching community.”
We are delighted to have Will as a supporter of the Thank a Teacher campaign. For Thank a Teacher Day 2023 Will surprised his sister working in a school in London on BBC Breakfast. BAFTA award winning actor Will is best known for his work in The Guardians of the Galaxy, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and We’re The Millers.
Dame Sheila Hancock (Supporter)
“There’s one (teacher) that sticks in my mind. One of the joys at my age is music – classical music, and there was a teacher called Miss Tudor-Craig who did musical appreciation. One day she played the Romeo and Juliet overture by Tchaikovsky and I was blown away.”
Sheila’s extensive career spans theatre, radio, television and film, and she is also now enjoying a career as a writer and features presenter. She recently featured in the BBC drama The Sixth Commandment. Other recent screen work includes the title role in the feature film Edie; ITV’s latest series of Unforgotten; and A Discovery of Witches, and three series of Delicious for SKY. Her latest book ‘Old Rage’ was published by Bloomsbury in June 2022.
David Walliams (Supporter)
Image by Charlie Clift
“I think I would like to be a teacher because teachers, you get to perform – and if you are a fun or inspiring teacher, you are never forgotten. Teachers who encouraged me with reading and writing will stay with me forever. You never forget a great teacher”
We were delighted David Walliams appeared on the BBC One Show on National Thank A Teacher Day 2021. He surprised a local school with a visit and even took over teaching the class. David is the biggest selling children’s author to have started writing since the year 2000. You can read his books in over fifty-five languages, and he’s sold over forty million worldwide
Alison Steadman (Supporter)
“A really good teacher can open up the world for you. Aged 15 I had two teachers, one was called Mildred Spencer, who was areal character, and a wonderful guy called Jim Wiggins. Both of them taught me so much, and when it was clear that I wanted to be an actress, I was a bit lost and I didn’t know what to do. Jim just said ‘come on, we’re going to do this’ and he got me in to the Liverpool Playhouse where I earnt a place and the rest is history. I had I would love to be able to go back and thank Jim Wiggins and Mildred Spencer.”
We are thrilled to have Alison Steadman OBE as a supporter of National Thank a Teacher Day 2023, appearing on ITV’s Lorraine to celebrate our hard-working educators and pay tribute to her former teachers. Alison is an award-winning actress known for her work in Gavin and Stacey, Life is Sweet and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.
Pixie Lott (Supporter)
“My teachers helped make my dreams come true and I really can’t thank them enough. I attended an Italia Conti Associate School from the age of 5 and my outstanding teachers gave me an excellent foundation and start to my career. In 2014, I opened a performing arts school with my sister Charlie-Ann and we have truly amazing teaching staff inspiring the next generation – a massive thank you to them. Teachers everywhere deserve a thank you and especially now. I salute you all. I am so pleased to have the opportunity to support the National Thank a Teacher Campaign and if you have a great teacher – please thank them! You can send them a free e-card at www.thankateacher.co.uk #ThankATeacher”
We are delighted to have Pixie’s support with the Thank A Teacher campaign. Pixie has delivered 3 UK number-one singles, sold over four million tracks, embarked on numerous worldwide tours, sold 1.6 million albums worldwide and written songs for some of the world’s biggest stars including Selena Gomez. Pixie has collaborated with legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and John Legend. Her songs have been used as the soundtrack to countless movies and she’s received in excess of 70 million YouTube views. She is a four-time BRIT Award nominee and the winner of two MTV European Music Awards.
Adam Beales (Supporter)
‘Blue Peter’ Presenter Adam Beales is well known as a YouTuber and has co-presented CBBC’s ‘The Dog Ate My Homework’.
Do you know an amazing teacher? Maybe they are someone you can trust or someone you can talk to if you’re feeling unhappy whilst things have been a bit different? Or maybe they’re just amazing all the time? If you have a really awesome teacher, please grab a grown up and thank them on www.thankateacher.co.uk
We are really thrilled to have Adam’s support with the Thank A Teacher campaign.
Steph McGovern (Supporter)
‘This is a great idea. Say thank you to an amazing teacher today. Anyone can thank an inspirational teacher, school leader or teaching assistant by sending them a free thank you e-card at thankateacher.co.uk #ThankATeacher”
Television presenter Steph McGovern is best known for her work on BBC Breakfast, Shop Well for Less and Watchdog Live. The journalist is now hosting her own lunchtime show on Channel 4, Steph’s Packed Lunch
Nadiya Hussain MBE (Supporter)
“Teachers play such a massive role in our lives and they can be the ones who inspire things decades later. We didn’t bake at home but my Home Economics teacher Mrs Marshall planted that seed in my head – I remember watching her at lunchtimes and being inspired to bake. Thank you Mrs Marshall! I’m thrilled to support the National Thank a Teacher campaign and if you have a fantastic teacher you can send them a free e-card to thank them via the Thank a Teacher website. Thank you to Britain’s Teaching Heroes!”
Nadiya Hussain is a baker, TV chef and presenter, and author, who won the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2015. Nadiya has gone on to publish three cookbooks.
Sarah Hadland (Supporter)
“I am delighted to be supporting the National Thank a Teacher campaign. I come from a big family of teachers and my Mum was a primary school teacher for 25 years. At theatre school, my Head teacher Miss Betty Laine singled out that comedy was probably my thing. I have her to thank for helping develop that talent. If you have a great teacher – please thank them! You can send them a free e-card at any time at www.thankateacher.co.uk #ThankaTeacher”
We are delighted to have Sarah as a supporter of Thank A Teacher. Sarah is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Stevie Sutton in the BBC One BAFTA-nominated comedy television series Miranda and Trish in The Job Lot.
Candice Brown (Supporter)
“This is a wonderful initiative! Teachers are not just teaching children to count or to write. They are a trustee, a confidant, a nurse and a friend. They have gone the extra mile during the last year. Teachers and all school staff deserve a huge thank you! You can send a free e-card to a teacher at thankateacher.co.uk #ThankATeacher”
Candice Brown is the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2016. She is a regular columnist for The Sunday Times’ writing in the magazine and The Dish, has baked on This Morning and Christmas Kitchen and has appeared as a panelist on Loose Women. Candice was a secondary school teacher when she applied for the British Bake Off and managed to juggle planning her fabulous bakes and filming commitments with teaching lively teenagers. Candice’s first book, Comfort (Ebury Press) was released in July 2017
Get involved.
Thank you to everyone who supports the work we do.
It’s easy to get involved in the Thank A Teacher campaign. By choosing us, you’ll be making a big difference in raising the profile of the teaching profession and highlighting the positive impact teachers and school leaders have in our society.
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