Worcestershire Education Awards: Office manager up for accolade

Louise Waters, who works at St Bede's Catholic Middle School, has been nominated as a 'Lockdown Hero' for her tireless work.

The 41-year-old organised a raft of support and treats for youngsters to help them through lockdown, including for wellbeing tokens to be sent to each pupil.

She arranged mental health initiatives, free Christmas lunches, mementoes for Year 8s who were leaving, wellbeing videos for pupils and delivered hampers to families who were isolating.

Matthew Russell, who nominated Louise, said: "During the two lockdowns, Louise has consistently gone well above and beyond.

"She has been here first thing in the morning to open the school up, has helped clean when we were short staffed, each week at least once a week, and has frequently been at school at 9 o'clock at night to lock up."

Reacting to her nomination, Louise said: "I've got a great team around me, a fantastic admin and site team. It really is a team effort.

"The whole team are amazing, the admin, site team, the cleaners. I couldn't have done it without them.

"Through the whole of lockdown St Bede's has been amazing."

Louise said the most rewarding part of her job is working with the children and her own experience as a mother-of-two inspires her work.

She added: "I'm a parent myself so I think about how I would want my children to be treated and put myself in the parent's position."

We have once again teamed up with The University of Worcester to repeat our Education Awards across all of our titles - Worcester News, Redditch Advertiser, Bromsgrove Advertiser, The Shuttle, and Evesham Journal - which recognises and celebrates the hard work, passion, quality and dedication of our educational establishments in Worcestershire.

Nominations can be made by visiting the awards section on the Advertiser website to submit suggestions in one of the categories which range from Headteacher of the Year to Lockdown Hero.