Honour for inspiring teacher
BRITAIN'S first female woodwork teacher – who was inspired by playing with Meccano as a child – is to receive her profession's highest honour.
Stephanie Atkinson will receive the outstanding contribution to design and technology education award from the Design and Technology Association next week.
For the last 20 years, the 67-year-old has taught at the University of Sunderland's faculty for education and society.
She said: "This is the highest award I can be given within design and technology in the UK.
"I had no idea I had been nominated, it came totally out of the blue. I feel very proud."
The award is recognition of an interest which stems from Prof Atkinson's childhood, when she spent hours putting together Meccano sets and developed a fascination for the workings of a toy steam engine.
By the time she left school, Prof Atkinson from Allendale in Northumberland, had secured a place at the former College of Art and Industrial Design in Newcastle, and by the age of 22, she had become the country's first female woodwork teacher at Hamilton High School in Leicester.
She added: "At the time there was no such thing as a woman teaching woodwork and there was quite a bit of national attention at the time. But I loved the job, the pupils were lovely and all the male teachers were very supportive."
University of Sunderland vice chancellor Professor Peter Fidler added: "Stephanie fully deserves her recognition and I'm delighted for her. She is a great example of the level of staff we are fortunate to have at the university – dedicated to her field, and to ensuring our students get the best possible experience."
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Weather for Jarrow
Thursday 09 February 2012
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