A RECENTLY retired Bradford Headteacher has said her MBE will represent the “tireless” work done by Bradford’s teachers.

Gill Edge, former head of Killinghall Primary School, has been honoured in The Queens 2019 Birthday Honours List with an MBE for services to Education.

She joins a list of people being honoured this year that includes Olivia Coleman and Bear Grylls.

Following the announcement Gill will attend an Investiture organised by the Central Chancery of the Order of Knighthood in St James’s Palace, London to receive her award.

Mrs Edge, an ex Head Girl of Heckmondwike Grammar School also won the Leadership Award at the Telegraph & Argus Schools Awards in 2018 for her years of service as a head.

During her time as head she has also been the co-chair of the Bradford Primary Improvement Partnership and a Senior Leader of Education.

She also recently spoke to over 1,000 delegates at the China Future Schools Conference about teaching in Bradford.

On receiving the notification of the MBE she said: “No one could have been more surprised than myself to have this honour bestowed upon me.

“I was totally unaware that I had even been nominated, I feel so humble to think that people think I am worthy of the time it takes to even nominate someone, let alone receive the award. I would like to publicly thank those who nominated me.

“As far as awards are concerned, I feel that there are so many worthy people, who like myself go to work every day and do their very best for the children in their care. However, it’s amazing to be recognised at this prestigious level for this commitment. Sometimes it has been hard work but never the less it has also been an absolute pleasure to work with the children, families, staff, governors and the wider communities in Bradford. I am proud to say that together we worked so hard to ensure children and families access the very best opportunities possible.

“I have always been passionate about convincing many people just what great things our pupils are capable of, despite the fact that many have huge barriers to overcome. It has been a very interesting journey, full of challenges, but more so filled with laughter and lifelong learning.

“I have worked in Bradford the whole of my career as an NQT at Swain House moving to Carrwood, St John’s, and Greengates Primary Schools. Becoming a Headteacher at 33 years of age, I spent 12 years as Headteacher of St Paul’s Primary and have served my final 14 years as Headteacher at Killinghall Primary School retiring in July 2018.”

Mrs Edge is a previous winner of a Silver Teaching Award in the Lifetime Achievement category of the Pearson Teaching Awards.

She added: “I am so very proud to bring an MBE back home to Yorkshire and to represent all the fantastic people including teachers who get up everyday and work tirelessly to ensure children achieve the very best they can.”

When she won her T&A award, beating out a number of other school leaders in a very strong category, Mrs Edge said: ““The children make it easy to get up every day and go to work.

“I have a fantastic team at the school. I’ve been teaching in Bradford for 38 years, but I still remember clearly being a newcomer.

“There isn’t a day goes by where I don’t love the job. The children of Bradford are a credit to us.

““The children make it all worthwhile, they make you want to go into work every day and do a good job.

“I’m really humbled to get this award. We’ll have to have an assembly on this to let the children know.”

She was nominated by her co-headteacher Claire Spencer, who said: “Gill is a truly inspirational headteacher who deserves special recognition.

“She has transformed the lives of so many children in our community.”