AN Oswaldtwistle school has welcomed new recruit Frankie Freeman after she bucked the national trend and went back to the classroom to learn how to be a teacher.

Frankie, 40, joined Moor End Primary School, White Ash Lane, after completing the 12 month Graduate Registered teaching Programme, which is run nationally by the Government's Teacher Training Agency.

GRTP encourages more experienced graduates who are already in work to consider entering the teaching profession by offering them the opportunity to continue to work while they train.

The profession has struggled, with people leaving and blaming poor pay and long hours.

Frankie, a mother-of-four, had always wanted to work with children, especially those experiencing special difficulties, but found her career had taken a wrong turn after she went into nursing.

She then began to help teach disabled children how to swim for a local voluntary group and ran a playgroup and guide group. After the births of her children she began work as a volunteer and then a non-teaching assistant at Read Community School, near to where she lives, and her headteacher agreed to support her as a graduate teacher.

While she studied for her teaching qualification at Edge Hill University College she also gained experience at Shadsworth Infant School and as a Special Support Assistant at Cross Hill Primary School in Blackburn.

She said: "I absolutely love teaching. It is such a great feeling to mean something to people and make a difference to their lives."

"There is no better feeling in the world than walking into my classroom and thinking that the future of these young people is in my hands. It is an incredible responsibility but I would encourage anyone who can see how thrilling this challenge is to go for it."

More than 30 newly-qualified teachers from Lancashire joined Frankie to celebrate their own teaching success stories in a ceremony at Chorley Woodlands Conference Centre last night. County Coun Alan Whittaker, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, who helped present the awards, said: "Frankie's is just one of the great stories that was celebrated at the award ceremony." They have all shown great determination in finding their vocation.

"The flexibility of the GRTP course opens the door to many highly experienced and enthusiastic older graduates by allowing them to work while they learn. I am delighted to say that children in many of our schools will now benefit from the wealth of their experience."

Anybody who would like to find out more about a career in teaching can call 01772 261885.