A HEAD teacher has hit out at those who "knock" the teaching profession.

Heather Jamison, of Pleckgate High School, Blackburn, said criticism of teachers had been one of her worst experiences in her first year as head.

She was speaking at the school's annual prize giving ceremony, where pupils were presented awards for achievements throughout the year.

Mrs Jamison said: "Over the past years, both parties in power have been very vocal in their criticism of teachers and yet I have seen a different picture.

"I have seen the GCSE introduced into classrooms months before there were any syllabuses or books and I've seen the teachers make it work.

"I've seen the National Curriculum introduced in the same way, with limited funding, and teachers have battled on.

"It's very fashionable to knock our profession and it has definitely been one of my worst reflections of this year.

"Whilst I would not deny that, like every profession, there are a few teachers who need to improve, I am very aware the vast majority of teachers are here because they care about the future of our children."

Mrs Jamison praised pupils for their high standards of behaviour and recent exam results.

She also thanked them for raising more than £4,000 for charities last year.

Phil Watson, acting chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, presented the prizes .

Included was this year's Blackburn and Darwen Under 16 swimming awards with the breaststroke being won by Graeme SWIMBY! PRIZES

GCSE

N Ashraf. English: R Mian. Mathematics: S Peacock. Science: N Ashraf, A Malik. French: R Sidat. German: S Khonat. Urdu: N Khan. Graphics: C Parker. Core: M Musa. Food: N Iqbal. Textiles: R Sidat. History: I Gen, S Hussain. Geography: A Laycock. Art: S Patel. Religious Education: S Asghar. Music: M Dunkinson. Media Studies: S Hussain. Information Technology: S Peacock., Trident: H Abharam (10KA), J Patel (10ZM).

Barbara and Keith Walmsley Prize: S Blackledge. Margaret and Ray Howson Prize: M Musa. Peter Taylor Award for Services to School Football: P Molyneux. Sharron Cross Prize: L Counter (9AD). Joanne Leaver Prize: I Adam (7DG). Peter Doidge Prize: S Ditta (10ZM). M Undre (10KA). Shabbir Shahin Prize: P Wilson (8AST).

Incentive awards

Year Seven: K Ali, N Asmal, D Atherton, A Brown, S Khalifa, N McKay, J Harwood, H Karim, K Yusuf, S Malik, A Patel, S Shikora, F Asghar, S Howe, F Naveed, R Jones, S Musa, I Zafar, G Abell, W McInerney, S Rafiq, B Nazir, I Patel, C Simpson.

Year Eight: K Lythgoe, K Mirza, A Patel, A Khan, S Mahmood, L Reid, I Chen, S Jaffer, A Patel, S Haben, K Hussain, K Livesey, S Abibhai, C Lucas, S Natha, W Brindle, R Khonat, A Patel, A Bangue, N Hall, O Mamoon, M Ennew, U Japgaonka, S Patel. Year Nine: L Finch, I Patel, S Patel, I Aga, K Edmondson, J Williams, I Khalifa, I Mataria, A Thomas, V McAulay, S Mohammed, S Siddique, Afzal Patel, Y Patel, U Tufail, A Ashraf, Arif Patel, Z Ukadia, S Ali, I Hussain, N Iqbal, E Kirkham, H Patel, N Patel.

Year 10: S Lohar, S Majeed, M Satia, S Ahmed, S Master, N Younis, I Bage, J Mushtaq, S Najeeb, H Abharam, R Bateman, S Riaz, S Aleem, I Hussain, R Hussain, L Bennett, K Moring, A Patel, J Lonsdale, F patel, I Rehman, A Haque, A Leech, S Ukadia.

Sporting achievements

Blackburn and Darwen Football League Winners: S Holmes (Captain). Blackburn and Darwen U16 Swimming Champions: A Marshall (Butterfly and Individual Medley), G Swimby (Breaststroke). Blackburn and Darwen Cricket League Winners: M Hussain (Captain).

Year Seven: G Abell, J Harwood. Year Eight: A Barton, A Burrill, Z Patel. Year Nine: N Azad, N Hinglotwala. Year 10: S Bangue, M Taylor. Year 11: A Laycock, R McLean.

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