Beit Shvidler Primary School’s Gemma Blaker has been named “Teacher of the Week” by national children’s magazine The Week Junior, having received the highest number of nominations in the award’s history.

After pupils from her Year One class at the Edgware school began submitting nominations, students from across the primary added theirs.

Mrs Blaker was praised for her efforts to make learning interesting and relevant, taking pupils on local walking trips and sharing her passion for reading by setting up book clubs and creating reading challenges.

Parent Naomi Greenwood said: “Mrs Blaker sees every child for who they are and centres them and their needs in a way that is so refreshing and inspiring. As a parent with a child who has special educational needs, I can’t express enough how invaluable that is.

“My son comes home excited to tell me about the stories she has shared and what he has learned.”

Jessica Dysch, 6, was one of the pupils who nominated Mrs Blaker, saying: “She’s good fun. If you think maths or science is boring, she makes it into a game. Mrs Blaker is an amazing teacher and I wanted her to be in the newspaper because it’s really special.”

Mrs Blaker was “so touched” by the appreciation of pupils and parents.

“It’s always lovely when people see how hard teachers work. But my amazing class and their parents make my job an absolute joy.” Her award was celebrated in a school assembly and with a party in Year 1..