A KIRKLEES secondary school is appreciative of its community after it was discovered to be the second most thanked in the UK.

Birkenshaw's BBG Academy has received a huge number of thank you cards for all the work which has been done both throughout lockdown and since it reopened two weeks ago.

Colleagues, pupils and parents have been sending the cards, via the online portal, to teachers through the National Thank a Teacher Campaign, which is run by the Teaching Awards Trust.

The campaign is a year-around effort to draw attention to the amazing work of teachers, schools and support staff across the nation, culminating with Thank a Teacher day on June 16.

Particularly outstanding thank you cards can also lead to teachers being put forward for the Pearson National Teaching Awards, where winners may have the opportunity to appear on the BBC’s The One Show.

Saira Luffman, Principal of BBG Academy, said: “If there is anything good that has come from the tumultuous twists and turns of the last twelve months – it is the absolute support, amazing camaraderie, and fantastic community that we have come to know so well as #TeamBBG.

"We are absolutely humbled and thankful to have received cards recognising the hard work and commitment of the entire school community through the ‘Thank a Teacher’ campaign.

"As we have returned to face-to-face teaching and some sense of normality, it is such a morale boost to know that all we have done this past year is recognised and appreciated.

"We cannot thank our fantastic parents, carers and wider community enough for their faith in us.”

Mary Palmer, Chief Executive of the Teaching Awards Trust, added: "The Thank a Teacher campaign is all about spreading appreciation.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us all how incredible schools, teachers and support staff really are, and the appreciation we have seen for school staff over the last two weeks in particular has been wonderful and heartwarming.

"We are delighted to see so many thank you cards being sent to BBG Academy, and congratulate them on the impact they have clearly had on their families.

"I encourage everyone to send their own lovely messages to their teachers and school staff members. They deserve it!”